WHAT ARE MY SHORT AND LONG TERM GOALS

               If were to tell the truth ; which am about to , I never really had any kind if goals . Other than make it to the next pay check . Yes ; there may have been many things I wanted to do in my life but all always just seemed be fantasy and dreams . I don't think ever to late to develop some .
                 Right now the couple I have is I enrolled in a couple on line classes .I did this mainly to see if I can handle it .I really want to remain committed to complete every task and do as well as I can . In the process maybe to really learn something . One thing I hope I learn to do is to be able to communicate my ideas so that they can be understood . My other is to continue working one this blog . Maybe my writing skills will improve I am not looking to grow this blog , that is the least of my concerns . If only a handful read it , I will be happy . I am smart enough to realize that there are many others that write their blogs to compete with .. Most probably better than mine .They also may have something profound to say and pass along . They felt it was important enough to put down so that we may read it . For me I can only hope that it may improve me on many levels . So guess I can consider this a goal .
                   So in doing these small steps may some larger and long term goals may appear and make them selves known to me . I am open to any ideas that may come to my mind . The one thing I do not want to do , is become so focused on a goal that I miss out on life . Just like I missed on some just trying to make ends meet .All I want to do is do some thing i can be proud of , have something accomplished .
                  The hardest thing I feel about setting a goal is know what that goal is and realizing where to start . Just take the first step is not enough . As in golf ; its all in the follow through , and keep your eyes on the ball .I hope I am making some sort of since , and not rambling to much .

WHAT DO YOU THINK

          I just gave some thought to something ; the Aztec calendar ends in a few days . Should give any credence to what some are saying will be our last day . In the past ten or so years what was to be our last days has come and gone and we are still going forward with life .
        Or should we just take this a day for a new beginning , a new understanding of life . Should we just take this opportunity to make the necessary changes in our life's and the world around us to make it better .
         People we are at a crossroads in our existence here on earth . With the unrest around the world , the people  in our governments cannot agree on anything . I know for myself I just want a fair chance according to the effort that I put in to my life . We only get out of our existence in this world what we put in to it . What gives people the idea that it is owed to them . People we have to work for it . We want peace on earth , well it has to be earned it just don't happen ,there is work involved . We want the good life well don't sit there and wait for the lottery or our governments to give it to us . We have go out into the world and seek it . Its not the end of the world because publishers clearing house did not knock on our door and hand you that big check .
           Living is not in the receiving , it is the journey toward our goals . It is never to late to turn things around . Like me for instance , I am trying to make some changes in my life , hopefully they will be for the better . I am also realistic enough to know it will not happen over night . First you must convince those around the changes are here to stay . You must be diligent in and constant in your efforts . No slip ups allowed . Do not not take to big of a step at first or you will fail .Take that first small step ,then the next and so on till you get the results you are looking for . If we change ourselves just maybe the world will begin to change . Am I making any since here ;I hope so . For me the trick is to take my own advise and follow through with it . I have made some small steps , the hard part is overlooking the critics . They constantly badger you with WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS ,WHATS IT GOING TO DO FOR YOU .  I just must continue on my own path and not worry about those who do not understand .
           So are we ready for what may be the end of the world or what may a new beginning . We will know soon wont we .

THE EPIC ROAD

          On any given day millions of cars , trucks , bus's and motorcycles take to roads and hi-ways . Each with its own destination and any number of passengers. The point that I am making i s each has its story behind them  , maybe more than one .
            Ever look at the hi-way and wonder what the story is behind that VW microbus you just passed is , or how about that sports car that passed you . So many different cars not mention types of people driving and riding in them .
             Just think of the accidental waltz that they do . Turn left , Turn right , or go straight on to their most important destination . I remember as a youth I would get my car and go for a drive with no particular idea of where I was going . I would cruise the main drag in town or run the dirt roads just to see the dust rise . How about hitting the road after a fresh snow just so you can be the first one to plow into the drifts . So many different reasons to be on the road . The grocery store , Doctors office , school , work , or even the kids soccer practice .
               With so much going on just on one road in a hour . Now just add the many roads in the world ,then the 24 hours in a day and finally the many modes of transportation in the word . With that you would have one epic story to tell . There would no loss for laughs , and drama out there in the world .
              So you look for your story or just live out your own epic as you travel on the worlds road . Start driving dwn a road to see where it may lead you and hopefully you will find your way back .

AMERICAN DREAM REVISTED

              Since yesterday afternoon I wondered what  I could find to write about today . I then remembered this object I would see every mourning on my way home from work on the bus . It sits in  a vacant lot where an office building once stood . A vacant office building to on side and another that is in use. There is a small church at the corner down the street that has a service that caters to the deaf if I am not mistaken .Nearby an apartment building and bed an breakfast . The silence of this lot is only disturbed by a occasional siren from the ambulances going to the hospital near by . This lot sits on a very busy road , that has a lot of traffic and there a bus stop across the street from where this object is located .
            So today I ventured over to see what I had been seeing sitting there . Much to my surprise the object had a message . If I remember correctly it had been sitting there for years .I only now had the gumption to venture over to look at it . when I saw it I just had to take a picture of it with the camera on my phone . I was delighted ;I have just found what I would write about today .
                           This brings me to the question why is this sitting there on this lot on a busy street ? What was going on in this persons life then when it was painted ? Is it giving out a message today that many would think as true today as it was the day it was placed there ?/ Mind you this has been on this lot for many years , just barely out of sight of passers by . Hundreds of people pass by here every day with giving it any notice or thought .
                            So is this toilet trying to send out a message to those that whom happen to take notice or was sitting there for some one like me to by chance walk over to look at it . Then take picture of it and write about then post it . Here's where I leave you for its not for me to tell you its purpose for being there . It's completely for every to come up with their own conclusion .
            NEW : 12/17/2012               In just the couple of weeks since I wrote this and published it for the first time I have noticed that this display has been disturbed and the east has been ripped off it . I can't help but think because I noticed it and wrote about it some body else took notice of it . How long has it sat there without calling attention to it self . I guess somebody did not like the message it was giving . Well that's the way it is now a days . Some of us just accept the message for what is and others feel they have to go out and destroy it because it does not agree with theirs . Yes ; there are people out there whom think differing opinions are a threat and have get violent to destroy those that differ from theirs . This object was not bothering any one it was just sitting there with no one taking notice . I guess it's my fault because I did and wrote about it . The state of politics in our country these days . They feel yes you can have an opinion  as long as it agrees with mine .If you don't your stupid and I will destroy it . That's the way it seems these days . Its a pure shame .

OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE

                How often do we go out our comfort zone . Not much : although this blog is outside my comfort zone . I am not one for sharing my thoughts and when I do it some how gets lost in the translation .I am often misunderstood ,it never seems to come out of my mouth the way i want it to sound ,However though ; when I sit at my laptop it seems to come through .
                I have been doing this for about six months or more and enjoying do this .I make time on my daily schedule every day to do some work on it . I am always on the look out for ideas . I now carry note book with me ,so I can jot down thoughts as they come to me . I am also thinking of coming up with a mission statement to go by as I work on this ; so as I can have some since of direction as I write . In my past postings they have been random and sporadic  . Yes I admit it ;I have not had any continuity in my work .
                From what noticed the blogs that seem to have any measure success the all been constant and a direction .I have spent all weekend working towards this goal . Searching and reading everything I can find on this , even took some notes . I am attempting to put some of what I found to use .
              I even enrolled in some online line courses the expand on my knowledge base , so as I have a little more to work with .I am hoping to to take this in the right direction at the same time improve myself right along with it All this energy that I am putting in this , people are not use to seeing come out me in this matter , usually I give up on stuff after a few weeks .They not seeing that in me on this .
             Well enough rambling for now I have got other things in this that need my attention .

A FREE INTERNET

                  Today a decision may be made on some thing we all use on a daily basis ; and I do not see anything about this on the news . Yes I do see a lot of other important issues being talked about . The fiscal cliff we are heading toward is very important to me ; but me being a new user of the Internet ,This has become just as important . I find a day does not go by that I am not on . It will affect many areas that I use such as Google + ; Face book : Twitter and so on .
                Are willing to just sit back and let happen what will . Should we let a group of people make a decision behind closed doors with out us having our say .NO WE SHOULD NOT . This is an attempt to voice my opinion  ,it my not be heard but I voiced it none the less . What I do not see is the outrage that this may be occurring . It will censor our use of it . I would probably not be able to write this blog that I gained so much enjoyment in doing .
                   Again as I have said before many times through out my blog ; this are just my thoughts nothing more . I am just making them heard . What are your thoughts and are you going to make them heard . protectinternetfreedom.org   Here is a link to make your self heard . I already have added my voice in the matter. So will you add yours and start a discussion in your circles .
                 Just how important is the internet to you .

MY TEN GUILTY PLEASURES

      Yes; admit it we all have those guilty pleasures that bring us such joy . They could be some thing simple or even something extravagant . Yet they are ours to enjoy and with some of them I get down right possessive over them to the point I will not share them with anyone . Some of them they are mine alone period .
* Playing air guitar while listening to my music . I don't know what happens but when the music gets to jamming real good some thing possesses me and I have stop right and grab a broom stick and wale .
* Chocolate snacks ; me thinks I am not the only one here with this aliment right .Come on every one be honest this has got to be one of yours too.
*Coffee . Some thing about a good cup of coffee in the mourning on a bright sunny ,chilly mourning while standing out on the step on a Sunday mourning before the rest of the world gets moving . It just plain relaxing . Nothing more can be said .
*Here's an odd one . A grilled ham and cheese sandwich with a cup of tomato soup . Nothing says mommas love more than that. Back home when I was a youth Mom would would have that waiting on us when we came in from shoveling snow off the drive way . It was so welcome and still is .
* A long soak in a hot tub when borrowing the lady's bath beads . I think I said enough on this .If she reads this I may be in trouble But it is so refreshing .
*A good movie no matter how many times I have seen it . I am that way with Humphrey Bogart movies. I can watch CASABLANCA , AFRICAN QUEEN . OR JOHN WAYNE'S  THE QUIET MAN .  There's something about movies that bring me back to a simpler time in life .
* Sitting down to a burger a some fast food joint or some where . By far I have found the burger and fries and some small lounge with an ice cold draft beer is the ultimate burger in my eyes . It can be just plain sinful if its made to perfection .
* Plane's ,Trains , and Car's . No matter how grown we are then little boy always come right out of me when I see one of these , The bigger the better . Oh yea , we better add trucks and earth movers and construction equipment .I can stand there and watch them do their work all day .
* This might sound odd but I do get some pleasure out of good hard nights work . Some thing about being elbow deep in some hard work just feels so good ,especially when its done . The since of accomplishment just feels so good . What about you .
* Now to the last one , now I must tell you I did not put these in order of their importance . This one is what I am doing right now ;this blog . I started this a few months ago . What surprises me is how I kept it up and how much my writing skills have improved over time , I know I am not there yet and have much to learn . Another thing surprises me is that i do really have some thing to say .  The pleasure also comes from some one is actual reading this.
                   There they are in a nut shell . By all means this is not a total list and many of these may not be in my top ten . These just the ones that come to mind at this moment .I am sure if I put more time in this I could come up with a bigger list .So how many of these fit in to your list or is your completely different . Have fun with your guilty pleasures , I know I will enjoy mine .

OPEN MINDS

                  " HE WHO CLOSES HIS EARS TO THE VIEWS OF OTHERS SHOW LITTLE CONFIDENCE IN THE INTEGRITY OF HIS OWN VIEWS ."  WILLIAM CONGREVE 

          The above statement sure says a lot alone and by it self  you think . Maybe this ought to be read at the beginning of every day to our congress and senate . It definitely should be on a placard on the Presidents desk .  They sure will not listen to others views unless they agree with them . Take the show the View they border on idiocy when they see one that disagrees with them . So much so that they resort to throwing out insults .
           I don't for sure but it may be contagious because everyday in my travels through out my city on public transportation I hear the same kind of ignorance . Help if you disagree with them about politics and religion . Sports I can understand the loyalty no matter the teams record , that's your team for better or worse , But are you that insecure about your beliefs that you will not listen to what others have to say . You may be passing up a chance to change some ones mind , or may learn some thing from another's opinion . They may have some facts that you are unaware of  ; for that matter you may educate them .
           From what I understand knowledge is a two way street not a dead end dirt road  with one way in and one way out . Some one tell me if I am wrong it should be a continual learning process . There will be some one that have a better idea or it may take a combination of all to make it happen . If experience taught one thing there will always be something new to learn or try nothing is set in stone . 
         So what I am saying ;from the President right on down to the lowest levels of government get of your high horses and talk to each other and make it happen . As we have to in our ever day lives outside the beltway . We have no choice but make it happen with the tools you allow us to use . We put you there to make it work ; no excuses . 

MY FAVORITE INTERNET RADIO STATION

        yes ; I do have  a favorite station to list to while I am searching the web ;working this blog and just cleaning house .Right now I have the door open to let the fresh air in , a curtain open to let the light in while I am working on this blog right now . In the back ground I have laut.fm/bluesclub playing and it has some good jams playing for inspiration .It may be from out of Germany but man the music is good . I hear stuff that I just seem to find any where else .
       I have been listen to this station for pretty much over a year now and it has yet to disappoint me . I can count on it to take me to the crossroads and get my mojo running . It plays BLUES ; CLASSIC ROCK ;BLUES ROCK KOLN  60'S AND 70'S .
       You will hear the likes of Buddy Guy  , Freddie King ,B.B. king and of course Eric Clapton . There will be Jimmy Hendrix , Led Zeppelin ,Jimmie Vaughan . The list could go on and you also hear some from out Germany and other locals .All are just as good in their own right . You wll not hear any sub-par music here . Its all worth listening to and passing a afternoon with .Don't take my word for it ;give it a listen to your self . You be the judge ,as for me the verdict is in .

MY THOUGHT FOR TODAY

          " THE VAST POSSIBILITIES OF OUR GREAT FUTURE WILL BECOME REALITIES ONLY IF WE MAKE OURSELVES RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT FUTURE ">>>>>> GIFFORD PINCHOT 


        Man ; only if only i came across this quote earlier in my life But then would I have listened . You know how we where when we were young . We new everything and no one could tell us anything and we thought we are young there is plenty of time for that later . Yea right ; before you know it life hits us in the face . Time slips away fast and boom all of a sudden we marry , children arrive , we all of sudden have responsibilities . For some of us ; me in particular we realize we should of been preparing instead of all that partying . I heard one person recently something to the effect as an excuse " I'm young " . I don't know how many times I thought that myself . 
         But you know there is always time to heed that advice , because after today you still have the rest of your life to take on that responsibility of your future , no matter what your age . The trick is do we have tenacity and the will power to make it happen . If we do the first task is to imagine what kind of future we want for ourselves and make the first step toward that future . Then each make some kind of step no matter how small towards the progress of that future we imagined for our selves . 
         For me the trick is just being able just take my own advise to heart . Lord knows I am the biggest procrastinator , and I am good at coming up with excuses for not doing it . I realize that I can no longer can accept the excuses from myself . I have to to learn to come up with the energy and strength and faith in myself to make that step toward that uncertainty . Your can not achieve success without failing first . We will always have our failures along the way to what we want . 
         One other thing we have have to take the time to imagine what that future for us will be . We can't take that first step with knowing where we are going . We can not wonder aimlessly toward a future . Its not accidentally hit us in the face . Most of are not that lucky . I know I not ; If it were not for bad luck I would not have any luck at all . "  Shoot I been plying the lottery for over twenty years and have yet win anything .  We can not it and wait for the lottery ; the odds are against us on that . 
          We to get out and do it our selves those are the odds that we can control by our actions . I tell today I am going to make that first step some how into that future , what ever that is . We definitely can not wait for our governments do it for us . They can't even agree amongst themselves to solve the problems our countries face right now let alone their futures .Shoot they don't listen to the people they represent . So in that final thought it all , i mean all the responsibility completely rest on our shoulders . The question is now what are we gonna do do with that responsibility !