A quick thank you to anyone who is taking the time to read my blog. I'm very new to this and its definitely a work in progress. Some of my facebook friends are following and some are commenting but the total number of people that tune in every week will always be a mystery to me. I don't need to take a roll call of readers but as I look over my friends list (facebook), I realize that I have a sea of diversity among them.
Blacks and whites,Latino and Asians,Democrats and Republicans,Crooks and lawyers, Gays and straights, Christians,Muslims,and Jews oh my!
And a cat named BooBoo.
From time to time this blog will contain some hyper sensitive material that floats around in my brain. I'm approaching this blog as a no holds barred tactic to let it all out. My intentions are not to seek and destroy any friendships or any other established relationships I have collected over the years. I am simply sharing my opinions and thoughts to you.
So let this blog entry serve as a warning label. I am quite sure I will be offending some of you in the future.This is NOT my goal. I am not out to be intentionally provocative. I'm just providing my thoughts and establishing the reasons why and how I think like I do.
Your comments and rage are welcome :) Have a good weekend everyone!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
My Promise to Society.....
I live my life the same way 99.999% of the people live their life on this planet. Anonymously! We go about our days functioning in such a way that goes completely unnoticed on a worldly scale. An extremely small percentage of people live a life under a microscope. Always being examined and judged by the rest of anonymous society. These organisms are usually classified as celebrities,politicians,or the latest craze on youtube, or anyone else living a life in front of a camera to be displayed on their choice of medium. But for the most part we are just one of almost 7 billion drops in a bucket on this Earth.
I don't know how much one drop(myself) can contribute to society that is going to make a big enough splash on the worldly scale to even make a difference. I do believe in leaving the world in a much better state than I found it, so Ive decided to declare what I think will be my biggest contribution to society. My promise to you...a small, unnoticable world changing difference.
I promise my fellow man that I will NOT annoy you with my ringtone!
Now for the rest of functioning society this is a new concept. I do not expect world peace to result in the promise, but for you ,my fellow man, its peace (and quiet) on a local scale. An anonymous unnoticed contribution to you. I do not expect full conformity in return. I realize how much you are in love with the latest Lady Gaga ringtone,or perhaps even the classic "Sweet Home Alabama". I get it!...but as I'm extremely annoyed by societies loud ass ringtones, I can't help but think that I am not alone in wishing they were toned down a bit. Of course, I realize they are not going away either. I would not expect them to. It's not an exaggeration to suggest that society's cell phone etiquette has alot of growing up to do. Cell phone usuage is relatively young in our society and we need to consider some unwritten rules to promote a civil cell phone society. Allow me to write them down.
Cell Phone 5 Commandments:
1. Do NOT text and drive
2. Lower the volume on ringer (1 or 2 volume bar max.)
3.Lower your voice when talking
4.Consider others in your company before answering
5.Never take a call when engaged in face to face conversation.
When did it become a rule in functioning society that you answer your cell on the spot,regardless of location,regardless of what you're doing,and whom you're with? Perhaps its due to home phone etiquette....In ancient societies it was custom to sprint to the phone in your home as soon as it would ring. I can not think of a time in which,as I was growing up, the phone rang and my parents or I would make a mad dash for answering it. Perhaps it was of high importance to shut the phone up (it was incredibly loud). Sound familar to modern times?
But believe me....Functioning society does not want you acting like you do when you're behind closed doors (when it comes to your phone in public places).We tend to act differently in public than we do behind closed doors, so let's just apply that to our phones.
Excuse me...I must take this call....
I don't know how much one drop(myself) can contribute to society that is going to make a big enough splash on the worldly scale to even make a difference. I do believe in leaving the world in a much better state than I found it, so Ive decided to declare what I think will be my biggest contribution to society. My promise to you...a small, unnoticable world changing difference.
I promise my fellow man that I will NOT annoy you with my ringtone!
Now for the rest of functioning society this is a new concept. I do not expect world peace to result in the promise, but for you ,my fellow man, its peace (and quiet) on a local scale. An anonymous unnoticed contribution to you. I do not expect full conformity in return. I realize how much you are in love with the latest Lady Gaga ringtone,or perhaps even the classic "Sweet Home Alabama". I get it!...but as I'm extremely annoyed by societies loud ass ringtones, I can't help but think that I am not alone in wishing they were toned down a bit. Of course, I realize they are not going away either. I would not expect them to. It's not an exaggeration to suggest that society's cell phone etiquette has alot of growing up to do. Cell phone usuage is relatively young in our society and we need to consider some unwritten rules to promote a civil cell phone society. Allow me to write them down.
Cell Phone 5 Commandments:
1. Do NOT text and drive
2. Lower the volume on ringer (1 or 2 volume bar max.)
3.Lower your voice when talking
4.Consider others in your company before answering
5.Never take a call when engaged in face to face conversation.
When did it become a rule in functioning society that you answer your cell on the spot,regardless of location,regardless of what you're doing,and whom you're with? Perhaps its due to home phone etiquette....In ancient societies it was custom to sprint to the phone in your home as soon as it would ring. I can not think of a time in which,as I was growing up, the phone rang and my parents or I would make a mad dash for answering it. Perhaps it was of high importance to shut the phone up (it was incredibly loud). Sound familar to modern times?
But believe me....Functioning society does not want you acting like you do when you're behind closed doors (when it comes to your phone in public places).We tend to act differently in public than we do behind closed doors, so let's just apply that to our phones.
Excuse me...I must take this call....
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Downtown Living.....
It's been almost four years ago that I made the move to downtown Roanoke,VA. I normally follow this up with a "What took me so long!?" or " I should have done this a whole lot sooner!" I talk to so many people around me that say " I never go downtown" and then the excuses roll.... I can't find parking...I'm not paying to park....I don't know how to parallel park...There's nothing to do...The homeless are cumbersome...The transvestites are scary on Salem Ave.
Really!? Whens the last time you came downtown? 1982?
How could the people of Roanoke and its surrounding areas not utilize the best features of the "city" they call home? Do you really think our out of town guests flock to Tanglewood to get a feel for the city? Why would you Roanokers?
I've been living in Roanoke for thirteen years and I've always enjoyed going downtown. Mill Mountain Coffee(sorry Starbucks),Macado's(no thanks Famous Anthony's), and our beautiful market area! (Kiss my ass Valley View). Moving here was a no brainer. To be able to walk home after dinner,drinks,shopping,and yes even after work on occasions is its biggest advantage. To be so close to Roanoke's finest restaurants,museums,and art galleries is a great advantage as well. Of course I shouldn't fail to mention the pet friendly atmosphere. The city has supplied its downtown residents with puppy poop bags and waste containers as well. It feels like home to me!
Embrace downtown everyone. Be thankful we have one and enjoy it. Come see me. We'll do lunch....Blues BBQ...not Applebees :)
Really!? Whens the last time you came downtown? 1982?
How could the people of Roanoke and its surrounding areas not utilize the best features of the "city" they call home? Do you really think our out of town guests flock to Tanglewood to get a feel for the city? Why would you Roanokers?
I've been living in Roanoke for thirteen years and I've always enjoyed going downtown. Mill Mountain Coffee(sorry Starbucks),Macado's(no thanks Famous Anthony's), and our beautiful market area! (Kiss my ass Valley View). Moving here was a no brainer. To be able to walk home after dinner,drinks,shopping,and yes even after work on occasions is its biggest advantage. To be so close to Roanoke's finest restaurants,museums,and art galleries is a great advantage as well. Of course I shouldn't fail to mention the pet friendly atmosphere. The city has supplied its downtown residents with puppy poop bags and waste containers as well. It feels like home to me!
Embrace downtown everyone. Be thankful we have one and enjoy it. Come see me. We'll do lunch....Blues BBQ...not Applebees :)
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Celebrating 11 Years as a Pet Friendly Home
Oliver was a mere eight weeks old when I bought him to his new home. He was purchased from a local breeder and was one of two in a litter born in January of 2000. Oliver is in part one of the biggest responsibilities I've ever decided to take on. I was 25 years old and was new to my independent living and life style outside my parents home. In short: I was a young pup about to start raising a young pup.
The last thing the breeder told me as I left their house: "Congratulations! He will be yours for the next 15 years!"
"Whoa!", I thought....Oliver is going to be with me until I'm 40. Now, at 25, you never put a lot of thought into turning 40. This was a big event for me in such a way that it helps put into perspective the magnitude of importance of the decision of being a pet owner was.
Was I ready for this? Can I handle this? Ready or not....parenthood has just began!
In the last eleven years Ive learned a lot,Ive regretted a couple things about becoming a pet owner. The first is waiting so long to add an additional pet into the family(Oliver has a playmate and sister Jack-mix named Brownie) Oliver was 7 when this happened and that's too long a gap for him to have another pet to hangout and play with. Most dogs work well in pairs.
The second and most important regret of becoming a pet owner is the word: Owner.
I shouldn't have purchased Oliver. As I have gotten older I have matured and realized that having a pet doesn't mean you need to buy a pet. There are thousands of potential loving pets in shelters and foster homes that need our care. Thousands of potential loving, needy pets are dying on this day due to lack of a loving home. A friend of mine fosters dogs and many other friends have adopted animals in the past. My way of pet caring thinking has shifted over the years. Oliver will be the last pet I purchase.
My advice as an 11 year pet loving,card carrying member: Adopt, don't shop.
Having a pet (I'm partial to dogs) is the greatest joy one could ever experience. It's a life time of relentless companionship,loyalty,love,and devotion. I'm referring to my experiences not the dogs ;)
Happy birthday Oliver.....
Sunday, January 2, 2011
New Years resolution: Try Blogging
Hello All,
As 2011 arrived on time this past Saturday, I quickly set a few goals in mind that I wanted to try. I don't really call them resolutions these days,but more less a new set of experiences to add to my life's to-do list. Some goals need maintaining from last year. More P90x,more travel,perhaps another tattoo?!
Ive also wanted to try blogging,so what better time to start than Jan. 2nd as part of my new years goals and resolutions. I should point out that Ive never done anything like this before. Other than posting my opinions and ideas on facebook I don't really get into doing alot of writing. I have no writing skills,my spelling is horrible( thank you spell check) and my grammar is suspect as well.....so bear with me...I write with multiple periods....like these.....its how I end sentences these days....its my version of saying uhhhhhh in between sentences.....
I hope you will enjoy reading these blogs. I hope they will offer some insight to what goes on in my mind. My goal is to write one every Sunday,although that is breaking a golden rule of Sundays. I have traditionally tittled Sunday as lazy Sundays (I avoid showers if I can) so this will be a proper challenge for me. An even bigger challenge would be to write a paragraph without over using the word Sunday....this is gonna be a tuff task.
Happy New Year everyone.
Michael G
As 2011 arrived on time this past Saturday, I quickly set a few goals in mind that I wanted to try. I don't really call them resolutions these days,but more less a new set of experiences to add to my life's to-do list. Some goals need maintaining from last year. More P90x,more travel,perhaps another tattoo?!
Ive also wanted to try blogging,so what better time to start than Jan. 2nd as part of my new years goals and resolutions. I should point out that Ive never done anything like this before. Other than posting my opinions and ideas on facebook I don't really get into doing alot of writing. I have no writing skills,my spelling is horrible( thank you spell check) and my grammar is suspect as well.....so bear with me...I write with multiple periods....like these.....its how I end sentences these days....its my version of saying uhhhhhh in between sentences.....
I hope you will enjoy reading these blogs. I hope they will offer some insight to what goes on in my mind. My goal is to write one every Sunday,although that is breaking a golden rule of Sundays. I have traditionally tittled Sunday as lazy Sundays (I avoid showers if I can) so this will be a proper challenge for me. An even bigger challenge would be to write a paragraph without over using the word Sunday....this is gonna be a tuff task.
Happy New Year everyone.
Michael G
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