Gone Soft

  Looks to me like a lot of guys that I run into lately are soft. They can't swing a hammer or turn a wrench, repair or build anything. They don't ride a bicycle or skate or ski or snowboard or have any sort of real relationship with any sort of machine except for some electronic devices. Their hands are soft and they don't have any scars, or have ever worn a cast. They don't swing a bat or racquet and the only time they sweat is when they're on a treadmill running, like a little mouse, around in circles.
  I happen to wear tattoos along with my scars, my wrinkles and my other imperfections and I'm quite proud of every mark on my body. My hands hold a few scars and sometimes I feel that if I don't bleed on a project, I may not have put enough of myself into it. My kids know which wrinkles on my face are theirs and which tattoos are for them. And if you think my wife is off the hook, think again. She also knows which wrinkles are hers, as well as the inked devil duck I wear for her.
  I guess I'm seeing these marks as times in my life, good times and bad times, they're my times. I've chosen to save some memories with tattoos and some memories have chosen to stay with me in the form of scars.
  But these guys I'm encountering are soft and pasty and probably don't know how to open the hood of their car. They sure as hell couldn't tell you where the oil dipstick is, let alone how to check the transmission fluid. The weird part is, they'll wear clothing that suggests they partake in some outdoor activity. They'll be spotted in surf apparel or clothing worn by motorcycle riders as if they participate in these past times.
  They will also have a tattoo, which makes me laugh. You usually won't see their one tattoo, cause they're usually embarrassed about it. You'll hear some lame ass story how they were drunk, or were dared, or how some ex-girlfriend told him it would make him a bad ass. Quite sad.
  The thing about all this that really bothers me, is these guys don't go outside and play. They don't have any relationship with nature, they stay inside, they experience the outdoors through various glowing screens. They live vicariously through other athletes, while never having any mud in their eye or get the thrill of a heart racing adrenaline rush. Yet they wear clothing that suggests that they partake in an extreme sport, but they don't.
  It would be great if they had a better understanding of their car also. If the car won't start, turning the key off and trying it thirty more times isn't going to make the car start. And learn how to change a tire and maybe some basic maintenance. These guys do a lot of complaining when a mechanic hands them a bill that equals a mortgage payment for their services, so knowing a few things about your ride goes a long way.
  So go outside guys, go to the beach, go shoot some baskets at the park, or go hike a local trail and spend some time under the hood of your car. I'm not telling you to go out and hurt yourself, but go outside, especially if you have kids. Get them and you off of the couch and go ride and sweat a little and get dirty. It'll make that beer at the end of the day that much better.
  
  
 

They're trying to tell us this stuff is good

  It's been a while since I've been up here rambling at you guys and I have to tell you that quite a lot has come to my attention. So, after some urging from a person who is very near and dear to me, (we will be talking about her a little later) I've opened the lappy to start spewing again.
  Over the summer we decided in my house to turn off the cable television and we live in an area that only gets three stations with an antenna. We subscribed to Netflix, so we had something to watch, and for the most part, we didn't really miss commercial television.
  The only thing I really missed watching was racing and especially NHRA drag racing. My son and I go to The Finals every year in Pomona and I was feeling a little out of the loop when we went in November. As the start of the racing season drew closer, I decided to bite the bullet and sign up for cable again.
  I've never been a fan of commercials, (I have satellite radio in one of my trucks and the other truck gets music from my ipod) but since we're watching cable television again, I'm being subjected to these abominations called commercials. And there's not a lot of things that piss me off more than some clown sitting in a big ol' office trying to sell me useless crap or inedible food.
  One of the things I've realized during these last couple of months watching television, is that most big companies are lagging behind what people like, and they're trying to be cool and relevant again. And the example I want to throw out there, is that piss water that is known as Bud Light. Budweiser re-bottled their rice water in some fancy bottles and made some commercials with a bunch of hipster looking posers, dancing around to sell this crap.  It's Bud Light, it will never be good, even though they got Justin Timberlake to sing in their commercial.
  The other example, was a commercial I saw for Quiznos. They had some crap sandwich with what they were calling lobster and "other seafood" in it. It's been a while since I've been out on the ocean fishing, but we called that chum. Why would I want a chum sandwich from Quiznos?
  The corporate world is taking advantage of us, and they are not really concerned with our health or well being. They are only concerned about moving large quantities of whatever crap they're making, at the best profit margin possible. Someone said that, if it has a commercial on television, you probably don't want to eat it. Sounds like good advice to me.
  And while I'm squawking about how the big food corporations are taking advantage of us, take a look at the next five pound bag of sugar you purchase. More than likely it will be only four pounds, yet the price never changed. Four pounds of sugar for the price of five pounds, now that's a deal, for the big company, not you. Look around, they've done the same thing to cans of coffee and what use to be gallons of ice cream to name a couple of examples.
  So keep your eyes open guys. You use to have to worry about con men, now those con men work for marketing companies, pushing worthless inedible products. And they're coming right into your house through that big glowing screen that takes up most of the wall.
  So turn off your television and go get yourself some real food and do me a favour, get yourself some good beer. Go support your local farmers and your local brewer, they're great people and would really appreciate your support.
  
 

A milestone

  So I've stomped around this earth for a while and I haven't gotten this far without help. I'm lucky enough to have my best friend by my side, through thick and thin, the ups and downs and all the of the lessons I have to work through. There's no way I could've done this by myself.
  We met on a blind date, set up by my best friend and his girl friend. I still can't tell you how long we dated, but she broke up with me. Of course I was devastated and to add insult to injury, she moved all the way across the country to New York.
  Again, I couldn't tell you how long it was, but I do know it was my 21st birthday and she was back in California. I was asked if it was alright if she went to dinner with us, I agreed and she still hasn't left.
  So, here we are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary, that's right, 25th. I can't hardly believe it and I'm not gonna tell you it was easy. I take that back, her and I are easy, it's the rest of life that's a challenge. I've heard that most arguments between married people is over money. Well, we've never had a lot of money and we've always taken on the world as a team, us against them, never, me against her.
  So, we've never had too much to argue about and we never wanted a house full of disrespect. Our house is exactly the opposite, lots of music, lots of laughter and over flowing with love for each other. And that was especially true for when our kids were growing up and continues on now.

  So here we are 25 years later and she still thinks I play my music too loud and that I should be nicer and I think she should enjoy punk music played too loud and that she's too nice. She has compassion for them and I want to whip their asses, so we balance each other.
  I've never done anything in a row for this long. No job, no school, hell, not even my kids and I know I'm not that easy to live with, but she's still here. I'm not really sure why, but I do know I love her with every fiber of my being and soul. I would sacrifice everything for her, I would die for her and I would kill for her. I may not be able to give her everything, yet, but I'm working on it.
  There are only two things I can think of that I do without her. I don't work with her and she doesn't surf with me. I don't really want to work with her, but there are times that I would like her to watch me surf so I can show off for her. Cause that's what we do, we show off for our girls.
  Otherwise I need her by my side on this journey and I'm uncomfortable when she's not. I'm going to ask her if she'll do another 25, I'll let you know what she says. And as I've told you guys before, I really work towards balance in my life and that's what she does for me.
  Plus, she bakes me chocolate cake.

Sometimes the truth hurts

  I work at a very small site, for a very large corporation. We have to walk the corporate line and most of the time it doesn't fit our small facility very well, but we do the best we can. Our district manager worked out of an office an hour south of us and most of us did not hold a very high opinion of him.
  Corporate finally agreed with us and removed this manager from our company. This manger had been with the company a long time, so his superiors are trying to spin him up as a leader and a mentor, both which could not be farther from the truth.
  Since this news was announced to us, a card showed up at our shop that we were told we could sign if we wanted to. A card to wish this former manager good luck and to thank him for a job well done. A good majority of the guys I work with signed it. Guys that didn't have a nice thing to say about this manager for, at least, the last two years.
  I couldn't believe it. Suddenly the shop was full of hypocrites. Guys that couldn't say his name without spitting or cursing were lining up to sign a card thanking this guy for his service.
  I was asked by my coworkers if I was going to sign the card. When I told them I wasn't going to sign any stinking card for this clown, they were a little shocked and I think they were also a little embarrassed buy their hypocrisy being brought to light.
  I wasn't about to thank a guy, that could not give a rats' ass whether I lived or died, for a job he did so poorly that he was asked to leave the company and I wasn't about to apologize for my position. Some of my coworkers think my attitude is a little harsh and they thought I should be nicer.
  Well, that ain't going to happen, I'm not feeling charitable today, and my opinion of this former manager isn't going to change just because he is now unemployed.
  I'm not sure why these guys feel they need to be so emotionally dishonest, but it drives me crazy. For crying out loud, have an opinion and stand by it, quit being so damn wishy washy.
  I'm not about to stop telling my truth just so we can feel all squishy inside.  Suck it up cupcake, sometimes the truth isn't pretty and neither am I.

Got to get rolling again

  Well, I have to tell you guys that I'm really no fan of winter. The winter in this part of the world was not particularly harsh or anything, but it seemed to go on forever. I was really missing the sun, warmer weather and the opportunity to get the motorcycle back on the road and the surfboard in the water.
  The cold, short days really threw me off my game, I couldn't find any motivation or inspiration. My muse seemed to be missing, and she's usually pretty ruthless when there's something we need to create. There's been numerous times when she's whipping my ass to get something done, but not this winter.
  I went to see my acupuncturist around the beginning of spring for a tune up, which I desperately needed. She helped balance me, plus,the time changed, which means it's staying light later in the evening and all these things combined are helping me get motivated again.
  I was able to get back in the surf on Easter Sunday and although the water was a little cold, it was great to be back in the line up. The weather has warmed a bit, so my son and I have been riding the motorcycles to work this week. It's amazing how being back in the water and back in the wind helps me out.
  Which means I'll probably be up here spewing more things at you about what pisses me off and the general state of manliness. I really don't have a plan, so grab a beer and let's see where my muse takes us.
  Now, go out there and find what it is that brings balance and joy to your world, grab a hold of it and enjoy it.
  I'm going to just that.

Where are the men?

  I don't really follow entertainment news or award shows like the Oscars or the Grammy's. If you ask me all those award shows are just a way for all the "stars" to get all dressed up, walk down a red carpet and be all glamorous and all that other crap. I think they take themselves a little too seriously.
  So, I was driving home the other day listening to the radio ( I have Sirius satellite radio in my truck, I love commercial free, uncensored radio) when they started talking about Chris Brown winning a Grammy and what a travesty it was.
  I don't listen to Chris Brown, I don't know any of his songs, I'm not a real fan of pop music. But, what they were pointing out on the radio show, was, that the music industry gave a guy who hit a woman a goddamn award. I don't really care about the Grammy's, but really? This guy beat Rihanna bloody. Why the hell would they give him any award?
  As far as I'm concerned this guy doesn't deserve shit, he hit a woman. I don't know Rihanna or listen to her music, but I do know, she should never be hit by any man.
  So where's the outrage and public outcry? And who are these people buying music made buy a guy that hits women? Chris Brown is worthless piece of scum that deserves absolutely nothing, except a beating like the one he gave Rihanna.
  The other point that was brought up on the radio program was, where are the men in Hollywood? Are there no men in the music industry? None of these executives would stand up for a woman or stand up to an abuser. What a worthless lot these people are. This just shows us their true colors and what is important to this industry. All they are worried about is the almighty dollar and if a woman beater sells records, they are right there to give him some crappy trinket.
  I'm a huge fan of music, not of the music industry and trust me, I will not be buying any music by Chris Brown. That guy can rot in hell. And if I have the unfortunate opportunity to hear one of his songs being played I will point out to the owner of the sound system Chris Brown's tendency to hit women.
  C'mon guys, you need to protect our women and keep them away from guys like Chris Brown.     

My family is growing

  My family is small and that has its good points and bad points, depending on who you talk to. My wife and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary this year, that's right, she has put up with me for 25 years, in a row, and, I have two kids. My daughter is in her second year of college and my son works at the same place as I do, but in a different department. The four of us are quite close, we've always watched out for each other and my daughter being away at school, about six hours away, is as far away as any of us have lived from each other and that is still taking some adjustment on all our parts.
  But my small family is changing and growing. My son is getting married this year. He and his fiancée have been going out since high school and we think they make a pretty good couple.
  So my close knit little family had to let this young lady find her way into our house and hearts. And let me tell you, that's no easy task, at least the hearts part, our house is pretty easy to get into. We are a pretty wicked bunch, especially sitting around the dinner table. We have been known to be a bit competitive and nothing is off limits at the table. The music is usually on and in between verses being sung the barbs fly fast and furious.
  So this young lady comes to dinner and I'll be damned if she doesn't jump right in. Her and my daughter become best friends and she asks my daughter to be her maid of honor. This young lady managed to move right into our hearts, so, we gave her a key to the house.
  The other day one of my most favorite people in the world asked me if I'm ready to be a daddy-in-law. I never even thought about that. This young lady has endeared herself to me in such a way that the pending wedding is just like the next step, a natural step. I'm actually very excited and honored about gaining another daughter.
  My little family gained another member, my son is taking a wife, my daughter gets a sister and my wife and I get another daughter.
  I couldn't be prouder.