All I needed to learn,...

Robert Fulgham wrote a most wonderful book.  All I needed to know I learned in Kindergarten.

Really good book.

But for those addicted to a game few know...

1. Sharing is caring.  When you share, you grow.  As a person.  In the game, sharing resources helps others grow their cities and it forms a stronger clan. 

2. Take turns.  Sometimes, being first isn't all that.  And there are always other opportunities popping up.  Like tiles.

3. There are others behind the curtain.  Face to face, there's always someone and in general people are good.  What you do or say can go a long way.  So don't execute a person.

4.  Strength in numbers.  You do better as a team or family than being a lone wolf.  Make alliances.

5.keep your word.  Say what you mean, mean what you say.  It helps against counter attacks too.

K > V

So like yeah

I had a nice chat with my friend Mel yesterday.  These little talks, along with little talks with everyone else, help bring the optimist and hopeful guy out of me again.

Well, she referred to something as RAK.  Random acts of kindness.  I think if we have more of these than random acts of violence the world will spin a bit more smoothly.  I don't know.  Maybe.  But I'd be willing to try.  Droplet in an ocean.

Hmm.  As Bruce Lee said... Be water.

Let RAK > RAV.

🌎🌍🌏

Every day I'm shuffling

So I've missed and needed work shoes.  Not so much shoes to wear to work but more of steel-toes.

I wish I bought more of the Doc Marten fuego styles, but they got discontinued years ago.  So, I said I'll get black Docs.  None.  Lame.  So just as I was gonna say hrm...  Tada... These will do. :)

Danced with them in the kitchen before going to work today.

Racin shelf

So yeah, I've liked NASCAR for awhile.  Win or lose, I like Dale Jr...

From #8 to #88, always liked him.  I've collected 1:18 Diecast cars, and the had an idea to make a diorama of a racetrack using 1:24 scale.  Well, now there's the roof of one of his race used cars... As in yeah... Actually drove it...

And while talking with Melvin at work, this idea hit me... A lighted shelf... With the roof hanging from it, a place to show the 1:18 Budweiser cars, and the top to house the 1:24 diorama...  So I did a sketch... I'm planning to taking some time to make it during this holiday break...

Looking forward to it.

Por que

Why do i treasure Spanish, I am sometimes asked... Why my affinity for it?

Plain and simple.  In high school, I only paid attention to present tense conjugation.  No idea about past or future tense.  In English and Tagalog, I have the concepts of past, present, and future.  In Spanish?  No.

So with Spanish,... I only live in the present.

Lol.  :)

Coffee

So like, a few days ago...

So I just left Starbucks and it was really cool.   I get to the window and they tell me that the person in front of me already paid for me.  I think to myself who was in front of me because it wasn't my wife, it was a total stranger?  So I Asked the window, you know what, go ahead and please take care of the person behind me.  Pay it forward, pay it backward, people are still good.

And Lily, the mantra for today abides.

Tiny snowflakes

It doesn't snow much in this part of Texas. (We insistently told our teachers it would snow back in 1982 or 1983... And sure enough it eventually did.)   When it does, there's no guarantee of enough so that you can do anything with the snow... Fleeting moment that doesn't last.

I've been taught that no two snowflakes are alike.  They fall from the sky, drifting down until they land on earth a short moment.  They may land alone or it may land with other snowflakes.  They may bring joy to others by becoming snowmen or snowballs in a snowball fight, something to land on and make snow angels with, and at jokingly other times, pissed on.  Don't eat yellow snow.

In the last 24 hours, there've been acts of kindness and moments of kindred spirits having the same wavelengths connecting many people.  They've been stories that can make you smile and teary and others leaving you in wonder as to why.

It doesn't snow much in this part of Texas.  But people are like snowflakes.  In the grand scheme of things, they really are.  Each individually made and fall from heaven only to return back to the sky in a different form after a somewhat short stay.  If you've ever seen a snowflake up close under a microscope, they are fascinating, much like learning about a person beyond basic face value.  

So yeah, I am glad that this snowflake is blessed to land where there're other snowflakes and get to be thrown like a snowball, made into a snowman, and pushed around for a snow angel.

You can almost hear the laughter.

Unraveled and unglued

When you have a sealed container, everything is nicely kept in.

But lately, everything is coming unglued and unraveled and I'm scared I can't keep it all together anymore.

I'm looking for an escape but my escape needs an escape and I've for nowhere and nothing and no one.

Is this what it feels like? 

I don't know how I can take it but I am scared.  I am really scared.  People will say they're there and they will listen.

This can't be fixed by listening.

And I don't know what to do.

I need an escape.  And it's coming to where I don't have one anymore.

There was never a plan B for this and I am crying inside to where I can't sleep.

Where there's a will

There has to be a way.

So like... Yeah.  I used to have one when I was younger and haven't updated it.  I guess it's time to.

I still have to work out the details and if I change my thinking, it's not as morbid.  Lol, I'll see it more as planning an after party.

I definitely want flogging molly (if I ever leave this world alive) to be played.  Maybe some smashing pumpkins, led zeppelin, jimi Hendrix... Disco...

Snoop dogg... The shins...

Oh, and I want a ride one a special space elevator.  I don't know how much it will be by that time, but I'd like to hopefully see where I've sent things for a good portion of my life.  Hopefully it's a slow elevator, or I would haunt it and press all the buttons... And enjoy a nice slow ride. And the elevator music would have a lot of good music, from a lot of genres.

Hmm.  And divvy up my stuff as requested cuz I know they'll be appreciated where I'd like them to go.

:)

Where there is a will, I hope there is a way.  And let there be dancing.  Lord knows I'll be dancing there too.  If you feel a tap on the shoulder... I hope you'll let me cut in and dance with you.

:)

Happy moments

"How are you?"

"Better now that you're here"

It's a cheesy hallmark moment... Yeah, but it really does make for precious happy moments.

John Lennon was right.

When I grow up, I want to be happy.

A fire

The trifecta.

A 24 yo grey cat, a 6 yo mini snow leopard, and a 6 mo old labradoodle...

In harmony a short time...

Over a fire.

Hmm.  ✌

FML.A.

It's not just family medical leave act.

Come in, Dragonfly

I took this picture at least a year ago at like lowes or joke depot.  Cool how the dragonfly has features that pop out.

Can I pretend that airplanes in the night sky are shooting stars?

I could really make a wish right now.

Happy

Old number 7

the Devil makes 3.

They opened for flogging Molly a few years ago...and they're awesome!

They chatted after the show, signed my shirt, and I got their music.

This one is number 7.  Disclaimer: not promotin' alcohol, just the song. :)

number 7, by the devil makes 3

I guess I grew up on an old dirt road 

Pedal to the metal always did what I was told

Till I found out that my brand new clothes 

Came second hand from the rich kids next door

Well, I grew up fast, I guess I grew up mean

There's a thousand things inside my head I wish I ain't seen

And now I just wandered through a real bad dream

Feelin' like I'm coming apart at the seams

Thank you Jack Daniels, Old Number Seven, 

Tennessee Whiskey got me drinking in heaven

Angels start to look good to me

They're gonna have to deport me to the fiery deep

Thank you Jack Daniels Old Number Seven

Tennessee Whiskey got me drinking in heaven

I know I can't stay here too long 

Cause I can't go a week with out doin' wrong

Without doing wrong

Without doing wrong

Without doing wrong

So I'm sitting as the bar stool it starts to grow roots 

Feelin' like an old worn out pair of shoes

Tell me what is it I should do 

When I'm swimming in the liquor only half way through

So I'm watching as his wings spread as wide as could be

Come on now and wrap them around me

Cause all I want to do now is fall to sleep

Come down here and lay next to me 

Thank you Jack Daniels Old Number Seven

Tennessee Whiskey got me drinking in heaven

Up here the bottle never runs dry 

And you never wake up with those tears in your eyes

Thank you Jack Daniels Old Number Seven

Tennessee Whiskey got me drinking in heaven

Angels start to look good to me

They're gonna have to deport me to the fiery deep(Old Number Seven)

To the fiery deep (Drinkin' in heaven)

To the fiery deep (Old Number Seven)

To the fiery deep (Drinkin' in heaven)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fut6zeXtyN0

Perks of work

You never know who you run into

Lol

Playing in the rain

In the 3rd grade, I got detention for playing in the rain.  The birthday book says I have issues with authority sometimes and I like to rebel.

That book scares me because it does describe me well.  Well, in 2011, we had a 40+ day drought, and it finally rained.  Poured!  And yes, I danced and played in the rain.

Today? Rain.  Cold 40 degF rain.  And... I'm playing in it.  Again.

Lol.

As a friend said, I probably look like a drenched Garfield...

Yeah, dyed my hair again yesterday so...

The product abides... LOL

The fire is still lit.

And some things never change.

I'll never grow old.

Entertainment Purpose Only EPO

Back in August 2005, I started a basic comic strip and put it on my old blog.  It started as a discussion between my friends at work about how we interacted with coworkers...

Jessica said she was having a rough day and I asked her why. 

"I just hate some people!!" 

"Why hate, Jess?"

"They annoy me!"

"Jess, some people are here to be our friends... Our support, our family... And some...well,...they're here for entertainment purposes only.  EPO..."

And that started it.

Well, that was 8 yrs ago.  

Oddly enough...8+ years later, life imitates art.  I hadn't done any color in my hair for that long... I remember I added highlights before the Swiss trip.

Anyway, I dyed my hair a few weeks ago... From dark brown/black to a ...well... It came out auburn/brown.  (Before). And now... Well... I'm on fire .

Lol

All I need are my fire/steel toed doc martens and fire/fossil watch.

Lol.

Luxurious fire age hair.

Good ol' WWF

So last weekend...

I grew up in the 80s.

Morning cartoons, etc.

But I also remember when it was WWF and not WWE... When it was cool and not as drama filled.

Sure I liked Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, etc.  but I also liked Hacksaw Jim Duggan... Sgt. Slaughter,... Honky Tonk Man...

Well, there was a fundraiser for autism awareness about 1.5 hrs away and thought... Hmm.  So with a 4' long 2"x4" and a drill sgt's hat... I went.  

I first met Sgt. Slaughter.  Now, I had his action figure, his tank, watched him in the cartoons...  He sounded just like him in person.  Well, duh, of course!  He talked about his action figures and cartoon movies... But that was it.  He signed my hat and then it was time to see Hacksaw.

The guy is tall.  So was sarge, but... I watched this guy on TV.  2x4 in hand.  American flag... "Hoooooo, tough guy!"  Yelling.  He was really, really nice and down to earth.  We chatted about WWF versus WWE, talked about daughters and whatever else.  We also took pictures which was way cool.  I'm surprised he spent as much time chatting and was genuinely interested in you.

I invited him to visit my workplace next time he came down.

Finally... HTM.  Roy Farris.  The Honky Tonk Man... Mr. Shake, Rattle, and Roll himself.  Sideburns were still there.  Southern accent, yep.  And we talked about....???? His iPhone.  Yeah, talked a little of his current wrestling legend contracts, but we chatted a long time about iPhones.  And why not to upgrade to 7.0.  He was adamant. And how to conserve batteries.  But the fact that we carried that conversation for almost an hour.  Priceless :)

I also picked up The Hand of God,

a book by Tony Acree who have all proceeds to the autism event.  Couldn't say no.  He said it's in talks to be a movie.  That'd be cool.  I'll be reading it soon. :)

So yeah, like... This was way fun. 

A good cause

So if you ever feel like supporting, consider:

Habitat for Humanity

Relay for Life

Make a wish

Recently, here's some cool stuff that went to a good cause.  I found out they sold for decent prices at the auction :)

A few other autographed items sold as well.  Can't wait to do this again next year.

Texas Flags

So yeah, I aged this brand new wood to look many years older, using natural staining, and in less than 48 hrs.

:)

This other one, I made for a friend at work.

And this one, I made for my friend's son stationed in Afghanistan so he had a piece of home with him. 

:)

Big empty

For the last two years, I've been working on this project at work.  Lots of headaches, lots of time spent, but it's finally been closed today.  And for now that it's no longer lingering, I'm listening to Big Empty in my head.

This is also the first full week I haven't really been a supervisor in at least 8 years.  It's a weird feeling, and if I thought work was busy before and unless someone grabbed me for lunch at lunch, it wouldn't happen until between 2 and 4 pm.

It's 2am and I'm finally done with prep work for tomorrow.  Time to have that cup of organic green tea and just chill for the few seconds to drink it.

Today, Emma and I listened to Lorde and the CDs I got when we all went to the renaissance festival.  What can I say? I like music that sounds like gypsies and Irish and whatever else.

It's been a week...and again it's a Friday morning I find myself awake and listless.  For similar yet different reasons of a big empty.  They asked me how I felt about it and truthfully, I haven't come to terms yet.  I've known these guys for the 6 years I've been here so far, and in one say, not anymore.  The folks I would spend my lunch with, share some laughs, invite to our wedding, Emma's baby shower, first birthdays.  It's probably trivial to others and they may not care.  I guess that's a way to look at it, but I'm here.  I'm here in an industry that is in life support and I'm hanging on too, for dear life.  I didnt realize how much of a control freak I was until I started making my place here, and I think one of my fears is the lack of control of a situation.  I'm not afraid of being in a Ferris wheel, I'm anxious that I do not have full control of that Ferris wheel.  I can control how hard I'll push myself at work, but I have no control over decisions made about me.

I had a career path, and it got chilled, and now it's totally something different and as to what I don't know.  All I know is, I'll do whatever is asked.  Move furniture, write paper, do support, whatever.  But I'm still going to have to wait until I get told what's to be.  So not luxurious hair.

So yeah...sometimes the only control I feel i have is a small screen with little soldiers going to a mine.  And pandora is on the background playing stone temple pilots or something on the nirvana station.  It's a little happy place away from a big empty.

Royals

So back in September, 2013, I finally gave in and downloaded Game of War: Fire Ages for the iPhone.

It looked intimidating at first...but I was bored with clash of clans.

Well, I started in a clan called CRX.  That's a story in itself but after the main leadership stopped, I started another clan with OWN, another player, and called it BMP, Bad Muthaphuckerz.

A few months later, we've more than doubled and went from English speaking from the US and Canada, to multilingual, and have members from the US, Canada, UK, Scotland, Kuwait, Iran, Greece, Italy, France, Serbia, New

Zealand, Brasil...

And so far, have made a few cool friends I'd actually hang out with in real life.

La vida

Luxurious hair

:)

Luxurious auburn

Sound of good music, pt 1

Happy halloween!

Itchin' for an Etchin'

A few years ago, my friend Cynthia gave me a pocket etch-a-sketch.  So yeah, like aside from the usual lines and try to spell names and stuff, I decided to just... Sketch.

I guess you can say I got inspired.

So... Yeah.  Here's what I ended up with.  What do you think?

As seen on Gravity :)

So we just saw Gravity...

And aside from a few scenes, it was literally pretty freaky seeing that on screen.

Good to see but should be in 3D.

In the meantime, here are two buddies.

:)

Rainbow is a Color.

Pardon me for a minute.

While focus is placed in one aspect of history, I would like to draw your attention on Mr. Bayard Rustin.

I want to help make sure history does not forget him.  He was a Civil Rights Activist, and if it was NOT for him, we might not be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the speech that was held by someone he mentored, helped promote, and be it known that Mr. Rustin was also the chief organizer of this event as well as others for equality.

But Mr. Rustin was gay.  So now the fight continues for equality. 

So yeah, like...really... Let true freedom ring.

August 1, 1981

For whatever unique or lack of significance this date has for you...

This is the initialization of MTV... Music television.  We had video jockeys, aka VJs... Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter, JJ Jackson, and Martha Quinn.

1st video played was Video Killed the Radio Star.

There were commercials urging viewers to keep it on their cable list.

And we saw many talents come and go.

And now?  We have Hannah "I put the ho in Hollywood" Montana twerking with the son of Growing Pains' dad.

There are more reality tv shows and soap operas than music videos.  More talk, less song.  And of course the generations were influenced by the changes.

So yeah...like... It's 2013.

I want my old MTV.

I don't care what sells.  I just want music.  I want art.  What is on now just does not qualify.  

RAW

Facebook is a great tool.  I'll admit it.  You can catch up with old friends and family.  It's relatively cheap to communicate with.  Serves as a good centralized place in emergencies to say I'm ok.  Plan parties and gatherings.  Play games.  Post memes and other images.  Share your thoughts. 

Share your thoughts.  That's a rough one.  The other aspect of the Internet is that it gives a sense of false anonymity or bravado.  Some act online as they would in person. Some act more timid.  Some act more outwardly.  

More often than not, I have to put out a disclaimer.  Whether it's in my head or I'm just trying to see what others think, I'm going to speak my mind.  If you don't mind my mind, my mind will speak on.  And if you do, well, there's a scrollbar or a button and you do have a choice.

So yeah, like, if you are potentially sensitive to some topics, don't walk away mad... Just walk away.

Just like when Eddie Murphy came out with RAW.  You could watch it.  Or not.