Hello All, Been a while since I posted anything here - life has been very busy for me lately.
As we approach another year, marking the day when we pay tribute to our comrades and countrymen & women, I wanted to 'send out' my own respect and good wishes;
To all that have come before me and made the ultimate sacrifice, I wish you rest and peace - no one will shoot at you any longer, and I pray that God, in whatever religious aspect we perceive him, has granted you eternal sanctuary.
To all who now currently serve our country, in all parts of the world, I pray that our creator will one day soon have mercy on all of us poor humans and show our world leaders the way to peace, and forever turn from war;
I have been where you have been, I have seen what you have seen - Though I retired from military service almost 4 years ago, I am still ONE OF YOU. I know your fears, your longings, your doubts, your heartaches, and most of all, YOUR STRENGTHS!
All of you, are the reason why I enjoy the freedoms and comforts that I have, and I have not forgotton you - As I start my mornings each day of the week, I say a silent prayer that one day soon, you will all come home safely to the loved ones you've left behind.
Know too, that I wore the uniform with pride while I was in, shared the same commitment that you do, and did my job the best that I could. I will not forget you, and I know that your countrymen & women will not forget you either. Godspeed to you all, and come home soon.
Hi All, Back again after a long 'hiatus'...Have gotten a few winks from here in the past couple of months, from some very lovely ladies....(I'm not putting this up to 'toot my own horn' as it were)....
I just wanted to say thanks to those ladies who have expressed interest in getting to know me better (I will respect your privacy ladies, and not list any names)...
But, because of the 'rules' of this site, since I am not a paying member, I can only give you a reply wink; There are of course, other methods of keeping in touch, but listing any 'alternative means' (such as e_mail, url, instant messengers, etc), is also against the rules -
Customer service does screen what is posted here, and deletes that which violates these rules (although, in the past, I have proven that it IS POSSIBLE to get sneaky and get the information across) -
Lately, I have come to the conclusion that this is a battle not worth fighting any more - I don't have the time or the patience...
For those ladies on here who would like a new friend or someone to correspond with, you can start by replying into this blog - I will check back periodically in case any of you are interested.
I am only offering friendship and nothing more - I recently got divorced, and wish to have some 'free space' so to speak before I think about settling down again.
I wish all of you the best of luck in your searches, and I also ask that all of you remember our ACTIVE service men and women who not only help keep us free, but who deserve our respect and support especially on this MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.
Been "underground" of late - Won't waste a lot of words why, 'cause I've got another blog elsewhere that tells why - Below:
Entry for November 25, 2006 The holidays are here, and things are getting 'topsey turvy' in my life again....Had to move (AGAIN)...won't list the reasons here, because most of those who know me know the reasons why....
In my last entry, the newest relationship I had started was going into a 'holding pattern' because of all the 'court related' BS.....It's no longer on hold, it's FINISHED...and I am fine with that;
Living alone again and will probably stay that way for awhile; Although, a recent development has taken place that may change that in the future....not wishing to elaborate 'cause I don't want to jinx myself; It's one of those situations where you've known someone for a year or more as friends only, then to your shock you discover that you have more in common with that person than you had EVER DREAMED!
Even more startling, is when, as friends, you BOTH realize this simulataneously, and it's like: "....Been looking for the right one, and you've been in front of my face all the time....are you the one I've been looking for?....."
No names at this point, because as I said above, don't want to jinx myself. I must confess, when all this happened (during a very long phone conversation), my heart started to kind of 'skip a beat' or two: A VERY SCARY PROSPECT! Feeling that sensation was thrilling and frightening at the same time......Tired of being hurt, getting my hopes up just to have them dashed again;
What to do? Take the chance or not? Ever the concern in my mind too, is if it doesn't work, that it could ruin the friendship....I seem to have rotten luck in that area; But in all good conscience, I can't walk away from this because then I would spend the rest of my life wondering "What if....."
Best option: "One day at a time...." Is all I can try for.....and most importantly: PATIENCE.
All for now.......SEE YA!!
Friday December 08, 2006
"White Lumpy Rain"
Winter has finally made it to New England.....Snowing like crazy out there this morning, and it of course adds to the Christmas season/spirit/feeling here in New England (the one we always see movies about on TV this time of year)......
Another week coming to an end (thank heavens!), and still have much to do before Christmas. The problem of course is making sure the financial backing is there to get these things done.....
On the personal front, I will say only this: Relationships take time and a lot of effort - Especially when they are long distance. Distance can make them tougher, but at the same time can test the resolve of two people that care about each other. (and yes, this relates to my LAST blog entry).....
Too many times have I hoped for something like this only to have something bad 'gum it up'....But I must say, so far, things have only gotten BETTER as each day goes by; (so when's the hammer going to fall?........LOL!) There are plenty of issues/challenges to overcome, but as long as they are viewed AS CHALLENGES, (instead of something more negative), then they CAN be dealt with and managed.
All for now, as I am writing this at work today......You know who you are out there, so when you read this, remember that I am 'still here' and haven't 'run for the hills'..........(yet...lol)....
Anyone who's ever had kids will appreciate this....anyone who hasn't, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSING! Some of these answers actually have 'adult connotations' (innocently made of course)....Laugh it up!
Cheers
Almost better than a cup of coffee to start your morning.... If you need a laugh, read through these Children's Science Exam Answers. These are real answers given by children.
Q: Name the four seasons. A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.
Q: Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink. A: Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists.
Q: How is dew formed? A: The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire.
Q: How can you delay milk turning sour? A: Keep it in the cow.
Q: What causes the tides in the oceans? A: The tides are a fight between the Earth and the Moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature hates a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight.
Q: What are steroids? A: Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs.
Q: What happens to your body as you age? A: When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental.
Q: What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty? A: He says good-bye to his boyhood and looks forward to
Q: Name a major disease associated with cigarettes. A: Premature death.
Q: What is artificial insemination? A: When the farmer does it to the cow, instead of the bull.
Q: How are the main parts of the body categorized? (ergo., abdomen.) A: The body is consisted into three parts---the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain; the borax contains the heart and lungs, and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels, A, E, I, O, and U.
Q: What is the fibula? A: A small lie.
Q: What does "varicose" mean? A: Nearby.
Q: Give the meaning of the term "Caesarean Section" A: The Caesarean Section is a district in Rome.
Q: What does the word "benign" mean?' A: Benign is what you will be after you be eight.
Reason to go to the mall: Buy ONE thing....Here's how a man would accomplish this, vs. how a woman would handle it....(DISCLAIMER/NOTE: This one is 'generalized' - I've actually seen ladies go in for one thing, and come out with one thing, and be done in 10 minutes, so DON'T SHOOT ME!...lol!).....
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the different 'settings' that a man has, vs. what a woman has? Well now, THE MYSTERY IS SOLVED! (they say a picture is worth a thousand words)...You be the judge....
Ran across this in the news today - Quite a shock, and it just illustrates what NOT to do when dating online - This poor guy made a buttload of mistakes that REALLY did him in....Read on...
Raymond Merrill flew from California to Brazil in March 2006, hoping to start a new life with online love Regina Filomena Rachid, who is accused of emptying his bank accounts and then killing him. (AP/Family Of Raymond Merrill)
FAST FACTS: Police say Rachid's boyfriend was questioned by detectives in early October but was released under a Brazilian law that says no one can be arrested in the days immediately before and after an election. Now he cannot be found.
(AP) The lonely, divorced carpenter thought he was going to Brazil to make wedding plans.
Instead, say Brazilian authorities, he was drugged and held captive for six days while his fianc?e and her real boyfriend emptied his bank accounts. Investigators say they then drove the 56-year-old victim to a vacant lot, where he was strangled with copper wire, doused with fuel, and set on fire.
Authorities found Raymond Merrill's charred body in April.
Now, the woman he believed was his betrothed is under arrest, along with a man suspected of helping to kill him.
"He would talk to me about ideal relationships and pure love," said Merrill's best friend, Bill Rauch. "With age doesn't necessarily come wisdom. He was used to doing things his way and, in the end, it did him in."
For months, his family knew nothing of his horrifying end. It was only after a bungled robbery in Brazil that investigators even learned of Merrill's fate.
Merrill met Regina Filomena Rachid last year through an online dating service. At the time, he was lonely and depressed, having been dumped by a Las Vegas woman for whom he had bought expensive gifts, according to Merrill's best friend.
Merrill and Rachid exchanged dozens of calls, e-mails and photographs, often enlisting Rachid's 18-year-old daughter as a translator. Rachid, 41, said she was from an upper middle class family in the real estate business.
"I thought, 'This is going a little fast,' but I didn't want to sound critical," said Merrill's sister, Marcia Sanchez Loebick.
The warning signs were obvious to Merrill's friend of nearly 30 years. Merrill gave Rachid $10,000 to start a skin care clinic and bought her a $20,000 sport utility vehicle. She complained it wasn't a fancier, more expensive model, Rauch said.
"This from a man who was tightfisted," Rauch said. "Ray and I would go out and I'd have to buy all the beers. All of a sudden, he's lavishing all these gifts and money on a relationship he's not even close to consummating.
"I said, 'Ray, these are so many red flags. I can't believe you're pursuing this,"' Rauch said. "He would just slough it off. He'd say, 'She's just a passionate and emotional Latina.' What do you say to a guy like that?"
Merrill visited Rachid twice in Sao Jose dos Campos, an industrial city about 60 miles from Sao Paulo. Both times he stayed a week longer than planned. Both times he notified Rauch, who then drove to Merrill's home in San Bruno to water the plants and collect the mail. On the third trip, Merrill again overstayed his return, but this time he didn't call Rauch to let him know.
Loebick, who lives in Cleveland, said she sent her brother repeated e-mails warning him that their 86-year-old father was dying, but got no response. She and Rauch's best friend called police in California to report him missing.
What happened to Merrill was more awful than either could have imagined.
Sometime after he arrived on March 21, Rachid and her real boyfriend, Nelson Siqueira Neves, drugged Merrill, kept him in a room in Rachid's house, and drained his bank accounts, stealing about $200,000 in all, according to Merrill's sister and Brazilian authorities.
Then, on April 1 - the day he was scheduled to return to California - they hired Evandro Celso Augusto Ribeiro for $5,600 to help kill him and set fire to the corpse, according to investigators. Authorities found the scorched remains but could not identify the victim, and buried the body in a pauper's grave.
But then Rachid - to raise money to pay off the hit man - took part in the holdup of a black market money changer, and accidentally left her purse behind, investigators say.
The money changer went to police and turned over the purse, which contained Merrill's credit card. Hours later, Rachid showed up at the same police station to report her purse stolen. Police arrested her on the spot. The alleged hit man soon told authorities what happened to Merrill, investigators said.
Rachid and Ribeiro are in custody, charged with armed robbery followed by death.
Police say Rachid's boyfriend was questioned by detectives in early October but was released under a Brazilian law that says no one can be arrested in the days immediately before and after an election. Now he cannot be found.
"I feel a really terrible sense of loss," said Merrill's best friend. "You expect to lose your parents. But you don't expect one of your best friends to die."
For all branches of the armed forces...Guys, you'll appreciate this one I'm sure - Pearls of wisdom in many ways.....Some may not find it humorous, but of course in a combat zone, you do what you have to do....
Cheers
... Rules of Gun Fighting
(Marines; Army; Navy; Air Force)
5 May 2005
USMC Rules For Gun Fighting
1. Bring a gun. Preferably, bring at least two guns. Bring all of your friends who have guns. Bring their friends who have guns. 2. If you can, make friends with those on the crew servicing weapons - Bring them as well. Borrow money from them, it gives them an added incentive to protect you. 3. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Life is expensive. 4. Only hits count. Close doesn't count. The only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss. 5. If your shooting stance is good, you're probably not moving fast enough nor using cover correctly. 6. Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend. (Lateral and diagonal movement are preferred.) 7. If you can choose what to bring to a gunfight, bring a long gun and a friend with a long gun. 8. In ten years nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only remember who lived and who didn't. 9. If you are not shooting, you should be communicating (calling for arty or air support), reloading, and running. 10. Accuracy is relative: Most combat shooting is more dependent on "pucker factor" than the inherent accuracy of the gun. 11. Use a gun that works EVERY TIME. "All skill is in vain when an Angel pisses in the flintlock of your musket." 12. Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to beat you to death with it because it is empty. 13. In combat, there are no rules, always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose. 14. Have a plan. 15. Have a back-up plan, because the first one won't work. 16. Have a back-up, back-up plan in case Centralcomand or Secretary of Defense finds the first two plans "unacceptable". 17. Use cover or concealment as much as possible. The only visible target should be in your gun sights. 18. Flank your adversary when possible. Protect your flank. 19. Don't drop your guard. 20. Always tactical load and threat scan 360 degrees. 21. Watch their hands. Hands kill. (In God we trust. Everyone else, keep your hands where I can see them). 22. Decide to be aggressive ENOUGH, quickly ENOUGH. 23. The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get. 24. Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet. 25. Be courteous to everyone, friendly to no one. 26. Your number one Option for Personal Security is a lifelong commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation. 27. Do not attend a gunfight with a handgun, the caliber of which does not start with a "4."
Army Rules for Gun Fighting
1. See USMC Rules to gun Fighting. 2. Add 60 to 90 days. 3. Hope the Marines already destroyed all meaningful resistance.
Navy Rules for Gun Fighting
1. Adopt an aggressive offshore posture. 2. Send in the Marines. 3. Drink Coffee and eat donuts.
Air Force Rules for Gun Fighting
1. Kiss the wife goodbye. 2. Drive to the base in your sports car. 3. Fly to target area, drop bombs, (try not to hit the Canuks) fly back to your home base. 4. BBQ some burgers and drink beer in your back yard, and talk s*** about the Navy, Army and Marines.
The 'sequel' to "How men and women perceive each other" - (the 'math' formula in the first post)....Ladies, if you want to 'blast a few rebuttals' at this one, go right ahead - It's all still in fun....
The 'next stage' of jokes - Everyone, feel free to jump in on this one; (Sarah sure did on one of my other ones) - This is all in fun folks - Someone down where I work obviously had a lot of time on their hands when they came up with this one: "Women, as explained by engineers." Enjoy!
Ok ladies, This one is in response to "Guy talk translated" - It is intended as FUN, and no 'sexism' against the female gender is intended - IT IS WHAT IT IS.
Got this in a powerpoint file, and I always thought it was kind of funny, and 'educational' at the same time. Not sure I remember all of it, but will try:
Note that all of these rules are numbered "1" for a reason:
1). Sunday=Sports - It's like the shifting of the tides, or the changing of the moon: LET IT BE.
1). Bre asts are for looking at - That's what they're there for, that's why we do it.
1). Men have two emotions: Hungry, and ho rny - If he doesn't have an erection, make him a sandwich.
1). Shopping is NOT a sport, and no, we are never going to look at it that way.
1). Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it - IT'S WHAT WE DO. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1). You have enough clothes.
1). You have WAY TOO MANY shoes.
1). If we ask you what is wrong, and you say 'nothing', we will act as though nothing is wrong; We know you are lying, but it's just not worth the hassle to drag it out of you.
1). If something we said makes you either sad or happy, we meant it in a happy way.
1). Anything you wear when we are going out together, is fine - REALLY.
1). If you think you are fat, you probably are: DON'T ASK US!
Thank you for reading all of this; Yes we know we have to sleep on the couch for the next several nights, but you know, guys really don't mind this: It's kind of like camping out.....
Cheers all
10/20/06 Update: Ok, something screwy is going on here, I can't even respond to comments ON MY OWN BLOG!! Had to go into the 'edit my blog' mode just to be able to put something up.....If customer service is reading this, would you guys like to fix the bugs in this place?
If this site were my responsiblity and had all the bugs this place does, I wouldn't have my job for very long - It seems like everytime an 'enhancement' is done to this site, the problems either get worse, or new ones sprout up....How about trying to leave well enough alone? Like the saying in the military goes, "If it's not broke, DON'T TRY AND FIX IT!!"...'nuff said out of me for this one...
Ok, Here is the first...I warn you ladies: Some of these may seem a bit 'sexist', but they are not intended as such - I think the first is pretty neutral - Anyone who drinks, or who has drank to excess will be able to identify with this one.....
Hangover Rating System
One Star Hangover (*) No pain. No real feeling of illness. You're able to function relatively well However, you are still parched. You can drink 5 sodas and still feel this way. For some reason, you are craving a steak & fries.
Two Star Hangover (**) No pain, but something is definitely amiss. You may look okay, but you have the mental capacity of a staple gun. The coffee you are chugging is only increasing your rumbling gut, which is still tossing around the fruity pancake from the 3:00 AM Waffle House excursion. There is some definite havoc being wreaked upon your bowels.
Three Star Hangover (***) Slight headache. Stomach feels crappy. You are definitely not productive. Anytime a girl walks by you gag because her perfume reminds you of the flavored schnapps shots your alcoholic friends dared you to drink. Life would be better right now if you were home in your bed watching Lucy reruns. You've had 4 cups of coffee, a gallon of water, 3 iced teas and a diet Coke --- yet you haven't peed once.
Four Star Hangover (****) Life su_cks. Your head is throbbing. You can't speak too quickly or else you might puke. Your boss has already lambasted you for being late and has given you a lecture for reeking of booze. You wore nice clothes, but that can't hide the fact that you only shaved one side of your face. (For the ladies, it looks like you put your make-up on while riding the bumper cars.) Your eyes look like one big red vein, and even your hair hurts. Your sphincter is in perpetual spasm, and the first of about five shits you take during the day brings water to the eyes of everyone who enters the bathroom.
Five Star Hangover (*****) You have a second heartbeat in your head, which is actually annoying the employee who sits in the next cube. Vodka vapor is seeping out of every pore and making you dizzy. You still have toothpaste crust in the corners of your mouth from brushing your teeth in an attempt to get the remnants of the poop fairy out. Your body has lost the ability to generate saliva so your tongue is suffocating you. You don't have the foggiest idea who the hell the stranger was passed out in your bed this morning. Any attempt to defecate results in a fire hose like discharge of alcohol-scented fluid with a rare ' floater' thrown in. The sole purpose of this 'floater' seems to be to splash the toilet water all over your ass. Death sounds pretty good about right now...
THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN YOU'RE DRUNK: Indubitably Innovative Preliminary Proliferation Cinnamon
THINGS THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN YOU'RE DRUNK: Specificity British Constitution Passive-aggressive disorder Loquacious Transubstantiate
THINGS THAT ARE DOWNRIGHT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY WHEN YOU'RE DRUNK: Thanks, but I don't want to have s*e*x . Nope, no more booze for me . Sorry, but you're not really my type . Good evening officer, isn't it lovely out tonight Oh, I just couldn't. No one wants to hear me sing .
I have been watching and reading a lot of the blogs here - I am truly sorry that so many of you have developed such a negative view of the male gender - Perfectly understandable, given the circumstances that have been listed in the different blogs I've read;
But, we're not all like that; Those of us who do know how to treat a lady are still around, but, like many of you, we too have been hurt and decieved and sometimes have trouble being able to trust again;
A few nights ago, the lady that I have been dating, arrived to a darkened living room, with a half-dozen roses on the table, visible only by the candlelight of one lone lit candle - She smiled when I came out from the hall, attired in FULL DRESS WHITES (Navy enlisted dress uniform - I have actually been retired from service just over 2 years now)....
I took her by the hand, and then she began to hear the soft 'slow dancing' music coming from my stereo (from the soundtrack of the movie, "Dirty Dancing" - "She's like the wind" was the first song to play)....
We danced for about 15 minutes.... I won't list what happened next, since I am after all a gentleman - But the remainder of the evening was not spent dancing.
* * * *
This website is a great place to vent, and share one's feelings, (especially since they created the blogs feature - it wasn't here last year when I first came on), meet new people, etc.; But: A word of warning here: IT'S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD - The bad can sometimes outweigh the good - It gets to be very addicting on this site - Which is why I have stayed away from it for so long; I now find myself about to be caught in that trap again, and for the sake of my sanity must 'bail out' for awhile -
I no doubt will be back again, but not for awhile; I wish all of you the best of luck in what you are searching for - Don't give up! Happiness can be had if it's with the right person and it's meant to be....Take care all....
Got too much time on my hands today, so began poking around on here; Not going to get TOO indepth since this is a 'public' blog and not my 'private' one...
Yes folks, my deep dark secret is out - I HAVE BEEN BLOGGING FOR SOME TIME NOW!
BUT: Have set restrictions/access limits on it, so that only those on a list can get to it....(you know who you are out there!)....Hope everyone is doing well.....Take care....
