Back to school

Time for me to try and go back to school. On line courses thru University of Phoenix. I was joking with someone that the last time I took a college course Carter was in office....I was wrong, actually it was Reagan, but close enough. I have always been smart enough for school, and am a fast learner, just not really all that interested. Lazy. This ia going to cut into my gym time, I just know it. But, I think its high time I tried something different. We shall see how these classes work out. Which reminds me I gotta write to my connection....gotta run.

thoughts on Elvis

Today is Elvis' birthday. Not that I knew this before, they just mentioned it on cnn. When I was a kid growing up I never thought much of him or his songs. Most guys didnt. We were too into the hard rock culture: Led Zeppelin, Lynard Skynard, the Stones, getting stoned, and so on. I mean, the guy did Vegas, which was like a sellout, going into retirement, if you will. But as I have grown older and read about life, his music, the kind of person he was I gained a greater respect for him...even his movies, none of which were all that great. But, he was an American icon, hero even...especially here in the town I live in Grafenwoehr, Germany where he spent some of his time in the army in the late 50's. They have a museum here with many pictures of him training with other troops. In many ways he symbolizes the best of America: a healing force after the war that helped rebuild germany and protect europe from the Russians and communism. Not just that, though, he represented America. And in a good way. He was the Sanatra or Crosby of his time, yet he ushered in a movement: Rock & Roll. With style. I hate what Vegas did to him, what that life did to him. Its not that big of a deal, but I just thought about that today. That and this weekend, taking care of myself, my baby and the dog. I guess thats the theme for this today: take care of yourself, no one else can but YOU, really.

Tuesdays

I have always loved Tuesdays, I dont know why, really....maybe just the name I like. TWOS-day. A new year and the promise to be a better person, I look forward to whats comming and have hope. I think I was in a rut, hating life, hating my job, hating some of the same down-in-the-mouth people I have to deal with on a daily basis. But today I can ignore them, just stay away from the depressing folks and be by "up" people. And there are people I can help, so I will, giving of ones self is good for the soul. And a daily work-out at the gym helps, too. Got one of those planned for later on today. I advise you to go out and work up a sweat, or do something outdoors today, it will make you fell 1000 per cent better, get the blood pumping to the brain, all that. I have some rocking up music on my ipod, too, that helps a lot. Ya know who I like? Denise Austin...she is on here at like, 5:30 a.m., pumping and shouting words of encouragement. I like here, I used to know someone like her, worked out doing palaties with her and others in our little community, it brings people together in a good way. It says,"hey, I may not be perfect, but I am working on it, and I am hanging with people like me". I loved it. I havent done that lately, just gone to the gym by myself, but see a lot of friends there and say hello. Went cross country skiing, too which was wonderful. I hope this "high" lasts for a long time, I was feeling depressed for a time there, very down in the mouth.

Life, continued

As I was saying before being interrupted, I like my life here and how its going. Sometimes I wonder where I would be had I chosen to go back to the states oh so many years ago, but at the time I didn't have much choice, plus, my head wasn't in a place I could do such a thing. Now, I am glad I did not go. I am thankful for my life, my wife, our life together, my belief in God and all his blessings, the peace my faith has brought to my life, no longer a slave to drugs or alcohol, though I do have a "gym problem" according to my wife. It took me quite some time to get to this point, and I am happy and at peace with the world. I wish all of you reading these words a blessed holiday season and, whatever your own beliefs are, your lives are enriched and the new years brings you happiness. PEACE!!!

Travel, the joys of, that is.......

I cannot say I am really all that fond of traveling, the actual movement by car, plane, bus or train that is. I realize that I must do it to see the folks back home, but I certainly do not enjoy it, which is why we dont see them very often. I have been up for 3 hours now, still have another hour before I get on the train in Vilseck to start my journey, change trains in Nuernberg then to Frankfurt airport where I will (hopefully) meet my wife and get on the plane. I hate the trains here, its like they are never on time, it seems unless its YOU thats late, then they are gone the split second it hits the scheduled time. I have had some issues with the bahn here, I recall once I got on one of the ICE (fast-inter-city) trains, was early and thought, hey this is great, when suddenly the damn trains stops and starts backing up...verrrrryyy slooowwwwyy. I mean, we are talking 10 mph, tops..in the middle on nowhere, corn fields on both sides. Turns out the idiot driving the train missed a stop, got on the wrong track and had to go back to a point where he could get us on the right one...of course I missed my connecting train and had to get a taxi the last leg of my trip. Just one story, there are many. I try not to take the train normally. Anyway, I am getting outa here, invading america today to see what all the fuss is about, to return in 2 weeks. Have fun all!!!

Fun times

are not what is happening to me today. I am hurting, physically and emotionally. Not real bad, but things have been better...maybe when the so-called people in charge get their stuff together I will be better, but you cant rush these thing, it will only make things worse. I fell in the bathroom the otherday, bruised my ribs somewhat, which only added to the misery of my cold/mild flu; when I cough or blow my nose it hurts. Plus, I cant even get in a good workout for at least another day or 2, so I recon I will just have to be the good husband and make dinner tonight, something tasty and healthy. The best thing about being sick is knowing I am getting better. I did pick up a nice bargain from the thrift shop today, a hood for work, only $3.00. New, too, probably retails for at least $40. I love a bargain. Sue wont like it, though it screams AMERICAN!!! Like I care, we live in Graf, the closest thing to little america on this side of the border. We are the majority here, besides its for work..... I look forward to a pain-free day.

A new wind is blowin

and I dont like the way it feels. Depression? Recession? Obsession? Are we that gullible that we, as a collective body of tax payers, are told we need to bail out out lousy investment system in order that life, at least economic life can go on? 700 Billion dollars?! Thank god we did not listen to Bush's plan to scrap social security and let us all dump our money into the stock market so we could manage it ourselves. When are people going to realize George Bush has no clue? Its REALLY windy outside, but dont worry, the government will come and resue you, unless you live in the U.S. and dont really matter because you are poor or black, or both! I mean, we HAVE to save the rich folks, the poor ones were already poor, so who gives a shit? Sometimes I cant think about the news, all I want to do is go workout and sweat....makes me feel good.