I Won!!... with a small catch

On the 12th of March (see Nervous and Worried), I had my hearing with Social Security.  It was 45 minutes to an hour long and it felt like forever.  The judge was difficult to "read" up until the decision was rendered.

She wanted to know everything about both my Emphysema and Bipolar disorders.  She was difficult, asking some of the same questions 2 and 3 times.  I guess she was trying to see if my responses changed from one question to the next.

I can understand to a degree what she was doing but it felt as if I was on the verge of denial of my benefits and was surprised when the judgement went in my favor.  So I won.

The only drawback to the entire trial was that she ordered my case to be re-evaluated in 12 months.  Which means I will go back to fighting for my benefits again in 12 months but at least I won for now and that has helped relieve some of the stress both Jackie and myself have been under for the last (almost) 4 years now.

But I Won is all that matters right now.

I will approach the bridge of re-evaluation when it gets here and not worry about it until then.

But I Won.
Thank God for small miracles.

Anyway, Thank you all to those who had me in their prayers and those that crossed their fingers and toes for me.

Just wanted to let you all know that it went well for me.

I hope you all have a good day and that your week is going well for you.

Danny

Thoughts........

Some come
and
Some go.

Thinking,
Running,
Sprinting around in my head.

What to Write?
What to Do?
What Not to Do?

Do I do it for me?
or
Do I do it for You?
or
Maybe for Both?

Games to play,
Clean up to do, ugh....
Readin needs done.....

What to Do?
What Not to Do?

Sometimes,
Sometimes, I Almost catch a Thought.
It just slips past.

Now more are there.
I Swear.

More thoughts
just jump on in.

Its a jungle in there.
My head, so full.

I need a net.
Something,
to catch these thoughts in my head.



Hope You ALL have a Great Weekend!
Danny

P.S. Remember I am hunting down a New Name for our Dime Store Detective.......
have one suggestion so far....... leave a suggestion and we can pick one sometime in the last week of August..... gives everyone time to think about it.

Something to THINK About!

Most of you that read me know that from time to time I have extra time on my hands to watch TV and Movies.

Well, watching "Legion" a couple of weeks ago and a quote was made in it I found to be a very interesting QUOTE and Question.

Personally, I am still pondering my response/answer to it.

Here is the QUOTE from "Legend" and I will share what I have come up with for myself so far, after.


"If You don't wake up tomorrow and it turns out Today is Your Last day on Earth, Would You be Proud of what You have Done in this Life?"


Hmmmmmm........
Makes you think a bit doesn't it?
I literally have been thinking about it for Weeks.
Not the Easiest of things to answer.

I have done things in my past I am DEFINITELY NOT Proud of:

1. Held a Grudge against my Parents for things they did, that they thought best at the time.  (Upon Reflection, as a Parent myself, I have to say I can understand - those choices are not EASY.)
2. As the Eldest of 3 Brothers I have allowed separation between us all.  One I know why and was not able to correct it before he passed away, but he knew I was trying to get us past it.  The other..... Well, that one I am really and truly clueless as to what happened.  I have an Idea but not even sure that is the problem.
3. I Love Pissing Off ASS Hats and making them look "Little" - basically putting them in their place, that they are NO Better than the rest of us.  (Been put there myself a few times - hard lesson to learn!
4. Proving a Professor at College Wrong in front of the entire class..... and that Cost me a 4.0 GPA  (Still feel I was right in that matter as it was Literature Interpretation and his opinion was the ONLY opinion - Interpretation is just that in my book - I can say one thing and you take it another.  Wars have been started that way!)
5. Drank like a Fish -- and could put men twice to three times my size under the table -- Quit 3 days after I got married, She was more important and I told her that -- in 15 years now I might have had a case + a 6 pack.
6. and those are just a few -- If I sat here and thought about it all night I would come up with Hundreds of things that I am NOT PROUD OF, but that would then get down to the nit picky.

Things I have Done that I am PROUD OF:

1. Married my Wife -- she is EVERYTHING to me and MORE....... (those that have read before can piece that together and WHY.)
2. My Daughters, knowing that J and I have brought them up to be BETTER than US in ALL WAYS!
3. Knowing that I have Learned from my Parents mistakes - isn't that how they are supposed to bring us up?  (NO, not all mistakes were avoided, but realizing I/We were in a similar situation and Not doing it/them the same way.  They did their job and taught me and I Learned from their experience.)
4. Stopping and helping others when they need/ed help, not because I had to but because it is/was the right thing to do.
5. Making Friends around the World and accepting the differences between themselves and myself, realizing that somewhere in there, there were similarities we could agree on and make something with it/them.
6. Teaching my Daughters to Treat All People with respect, As I Try to Treat All People with respect.  (there are times you try and try and it doesn't work, then you resort to treating them the way they treat you and others and eventually they get the idea, HOPEFULLY)
7. Having served my country not once but twice - once in the U.S. Navy on-board the USS Sierra AD-18 (during Desert Shield and Storm, two Hurricanes Hugo and Andrew), and in the U.S. Army in Bosnia.
8. Most of my writing on this Blog (call it Rose Colored Glasses on my part) is GOOD.  (Some not so Great but all writers in any format have a bad day once in awhile.... LOL)
9. and I will stop this one here as again I could go on and on.

These are Some of the responses to the QUOTE/QUESTION above.

Care to share any of yours even if it is just one or two?
and if not - At least Think about it...... Are you headed where you want to be, or....

Hope you all have a Great Day!
Danny

P.S.  If you would like to follow me on Twitter I am @DanWins2007 -- and it will also give you updates on when I post something New here on the blog as well.  Hope to see you there and/or here.

Inspired by Another's Post

Anything at Anytime has been doing some "Catching Up" on reading Blogs that I missed during my Hiatus with the girls for a week.

I came across a Post that was put up Yesterday from Tribal Writer (Justine Musk) "ego vs soul", talk about making one think!

If you are "ANYONE" doing "ANYTHING" in Life this is a MUST READ!

Go over and check it out.

It is not a long Tirade that beats you up.
Simple statement of Facts.
It is REAL!

If you didn't check out Tribal Writer from the "12 Blogs by Christmas" (last link goes to Last 12BbC so you may see the full list if you missed them) now is the time to visit.
Look around, she has some good input on Blogging, Writing and Life in General.
What she writes can be applied to a multitude of different things.

"ego vs soul"

It Really got me to Thinking!
(yeah, I know, That burning rubber smell smelt around the world last night was my brain.)

Where am I?
am I more Ego?
or
More Soul?

I would like to think that I lean more on the Soul side of that equation.
It is hard because natural Ego says - MUST have more Followers -- Must get People to See ME.
But not at the Expense of what I am writing, Saying, THINKING.

Justine Musk has put in this one post of hers a conundrum (for me at least).

That is a Good Thing!

It makes me think about:
Who am I?
What am I doing?
Where am I going?
When and How long am I going to do it?
and
Why am I doing it?

The Conundrum is this: It takes BOTH, Ego and Soul to really get something Going - The Trick is "How much of Each?"

To Much Ego and you loose your audience to poor writing and whimsical "Crappy" posts.
Great Writing without a touch of Ego to promote it, is about as useful as some of my old Poetry that still sits in odd notes here and there (some of which may Never be found again, LOL).

Yesterday's post "ego vs soul" by Justine Musk is a must Read!  I can't say that enough.  It applies to more than just Blogging.  It applies to Everyday Life!

Give it a read, and...... When you are done..... Let me know if I lead you astray.

Multiple Muses

Anything at Anytime would not have been if not for my Muses.

Not to get all dictionary on you or anything like that but "Muse" was in Greek Mythology any of 9 goddesses that oversee/oversaw Science, Art, and Literature.  Today we view a Muse as an inspiration to writers, poets and artist.

I suppose most of us would be Glad, and feel Lucky to have a Muse that inspired some of our works.

Am I wrong?

I don't think so; however, you may disagree.

Truly, I believe everyone that takes the time to do what they WANT is responding to their Muse.  Bloggers and Writers write.  Bloggers and Artist use pictures to show what they Want you to see.  Some Love to work on Science projects to try and better our lives.  Others enjoy what they do for a living.  Is that not Responding to a Muse - an inspiration?

Me,  I am more than Lucky.

I am Blessed!!!!!!!!!!!

I have not one Muse, I have many!

My Wife, of which I have written a bit about.

Both of my Daughters, both of which are older but still young enough to Inspire Wonder in the simplest of things.

People and Friends and Yes, You my Readers Inspire me to write many things that I have posted and yet to post here on this blog.

Anything at Anytime was created at the need (Inspiration) of my Wife.

Today's Post was Inspired by a comment on yesterday's post by nothingprofound when he mentioned that Jackie was my Inspiration.  He was Right! of course.

Inspiration, or Muse may come to you when you least expect it.  You can look for it and maybe find it somewhere around you at home or work.  Honestly, I find the ones you don't expect to be the best of them all!

Have you had your MUSE today?

Insurance Rant and me

I have been finding it hard to focus on a topic.  Last night and this morning I have sat in front of this screen looking and wondering what I might right about but it stays blank.

Not fair to you that read me regularly and not fair to me.

It is not like I don't still have plenty running around in this head of mine, it is just that I can not focus on them.

I will get on this rant about insurances.  Not just our insurance but all insurances that I have had over the last 10-15 years.

Over the last 10 -15 years I have had several insurances due to changing jobs or the jobs changing our insurance carriers.  The Problem I have here is that I have tried to stop this before but each time I have gotten a Dr to give me a prescription for the newest and best drugs to "help" me Quit, Insurance will deny any claim for them to pay for the drugs as it is an "Elective Drug".

The Insurance Companies would sooner Pay for all the Cancer and Emphysema and other Lung Problems than pay out for Medication that would help all of us that Want to Quit and Lengthen our Lives.

What the Hell are they thinking?

What "Bean Counter" are they listening to that tells them it is cheaper not to pay for the drugs.  It will be cheaper paying for the Oxygen equipment, possible surgeries,  All the X-rays, MRIs, etc. etc.........

Government Insurance sure as Hell isn't the answer either. But that is for another day.

Getting all the Insurances to understand that they would save money by letting the People get the drugs the Doctors prescribe for them in order to help quit something or to ease them through something.  Rather than We can't do this or We can't do that because, Well Just Because.

Then you have to fight most of them to pay their share and get it all taken care of.  Jump this hoop then jump that one and the next one and then we might be able to do something for you.

Insurance rates go up and up and pay out less and less.  Our Government should not have added this mandatory Insurance but should have Put together an oversight like the FDA, FAA, or OSHA (those are just a few off of the top of my head.

With oversight from a government stand point you might see less BS making claims and getting access to drugs that could really do people a difference.

I have tried off and on over the last 15 years to Quit.  I was never able to afford the drugs to get started $400.00 out of pocket, at the time that was a car payment and part of our rent.  And we all know how those two would have reacted if I said "Oh, I needed my meds last month can you wait Please?"  Yeah, right.

If I had been able to get the meds back then - maybe it would have helped - maybe not.  It would have given me  a much better shot and not sitting here now wondering............

Don't think I hold the insurances Companies all at fault.  I Don't.  I am the one that did this to myself for so long.  I made the choice.  I can honestly say I have done plenty of other things that could have been as addictive or "troublesome" as cigarettes but those were easy to stop.  I have found the hardest Damn thing to quit has been cigarettes.

You know whats so bad about that -  I know they are what is killing me -  That is why I am on three heavy duty Anti-Deps. to keep me "mellowed out" for awhile.

Now again while I am in this state -- Come on folks feed me some ideas you would like me to "Focus" on?

P.S.  Put pressure on you insurance companies to start paying for this kind of stuff for smokers.  In the long run it could save you all money because the insurance companies will not be paying out as much as they do when it is to late.

It Starts with ONE!

No matter what it is, it must have a start.

The start could be a first person to do something.  A thought, an action, a reaction; first there is one and then another and another.  Before you know it, something has begun to take on a life of its own.

Take for example this blog - Anything at Anytime.
Anything at Anytime started on May 23rd 2010 with me.  My lonesome, single self (family: wife and kids don't count).  Talking, chatting, being active with others and a little over two months later and I have 63 Public Followers, plus a few via networked blogs and, the surprising one to me, I have 75 following with feed burner (RSS Feeds).  I know several of those are from the regular and networked followers, but if my figures are right, I have around 110 different followers.  Two Months ago 10 followers would have been big.

One person having an idea, a thought, sharing that thought or idea with others and those others share with others.  Some "bump" into it by accident but the idea or thought sticks, and they share it.  Before you know it, it starts to grow.  Sometimes the idea or thought grows quickly and other times slowly.

Personally, I like it when they have a quick start to jump start it and give it legs, then slowdown to let everything "fill out" and catch up.
Anything at Anytime is taking that route.
Where does it go from here?  Only we can tell.  Yes, WE - I write, you read and then comment to open discussion.  Maybe I put up a Post you really like or are Passionate about.  Make your Comments. Pass it on to People you think would have an interest in it.  Encourage them to comment.

We, You and I, do not know what comments might elicit a response or a moment of learning or reflection.  We could all pick something up out of others experiences.

I know the traffic is here.  I know you all comeback to see what is new and where I have "Gone" with my Posts.  Currently Anything at Anytime sees roughly 25 - 30 visits a day (some days more and some days less).
Comment, let me know somethings you would like to see discussed or ideas you want me to try and get discussions going.  The more participation, the more We ALL get out of this.

It ALL starts with One!  IT Grows with MANY!

What, Why and Where?

Anything at Anytime: ponder that for a moment, think over those three words.
Wonder where I came up with them?
Maybe this might help a little bit and it might give you an Idea why I write Anything at Anytime.


Many sometimes, I wonder where life is taking me, is taking us?

Have you ever wondered why things happen?  Thought about what got us where we are?

I guess that is one of the all time questions: "Why?  What got us here and Where is it taking US (Me)?

I am not going to involve God or a Superior being or anything like that into this discussion although I personally feel God plays a major roll in all things.  This is about What and Why and Wheres of Us.

The What and Whys I think I have figured out.
What got us here, where we are today is us.  The nature in people is to find new things most of which are intended to make life better as a whole.  The persistent desire to explore different and possibly better things.
Sometimes it works against us.  That is how we learn and move on to the next step and find that certain answer that makes it all fit together.  What got us to where we are today is the fact that some people figured out certain things that fulfilled the next logical step.

Somebody got with somebody and said: "Look what I have found/discovered.  Isn't it Great?!?"
The other(s) liked and......... BANG....... it Grows on the world.  More and more people do it, use it, read it or just in general accept it.  A couple Examples you ask?  Of course.
Airplanes - started out as something for fun and experimentation.  Today, we have thousands if not millions traveling daily, great distances that can be measured in minutes and would have taken months if not years.
Cell Phones - upgrade from phones - but a device allowing communication over vast distances in seconds where as a letter of old would take days, weeks and months; if not longer.
Cars - same things apply here distance and time.
Television/cable/satellite - Things that have "improved" life........  Hmmmmmm..... That one is still up for judgement.  Some TV is ok but give me a good book over TV any day of the week.

What got us here was the urge to Explore, to move on in a forward direction.  One step at a time, one in front of the other always going forward.  A few slips and slides when we run into obstructions.  Leaps and bounds when freed of Restraints.

The Why is simple:  It is Our Nature!

We have that urge, the need to see what is beyond the horizon.  What lies beyond the next hill?  We can't help ourselves.  We must go that next step.  Nature - Our inborn Natural instincts are to see what is there.  We can not sit still, and for those that do like to stay where they are..... Well, they just get dragged along.

There are those who do not take action but inspire action.  They are Writers (wish I could say I was one but sadly I am not).  Writers are in a sense catalyst.  They Spark the kindling that initiates the fire.  They are the Flash Point.  Writers give us Ideas and What ifs that get the movers to move.  Anything can happen when Writers put words to paper or screen.  Writers paint a picture of the future with words, We fill it in with color by action.

Where is this all taking US (Me)?

I have not the faintest clue.  I am not a fortune teller at the carnival and can not fathom even an educated guess.  We as a Whole choose what direction.  Our Actions and Inactions will determine that destination.  With where things are today,  My question is this:  What web of paintings will Writers provide us with in order for US to fill with paint?  What things can We do to make it better or take Us to that next step?

We are the answer.
Not I, Not You.

We are!

SOoooo........;  What, Why and Where are We going?

What to DO?

Well, I was going to write a Poem today.
I got it all written and ready to type.  I re-read it and when done.....  Oh, God what a failure that was! 
I did that......?  Ugh!

I sat and thought about what to write, what would be good for today?
I thought I had it and was going to make a farce of a fairy tale.  My Youngest did one about Jack and Jill, and she did a fantastic job.  I mean Awesome job!  So, if she can do it, Dad can do it.  Right?

WRONG!

Thinking a little longer I thought about how I could draw a comparison about how several of the fairy tales and Aesop's Fables all roll around Threes. 
The Three Bears, The Billy Goats Gruff, The Three little Pigs, etc..... etc.......

That wouldn't work because then what do I do with The Ugly Duckling, The Pied Piper, Old Mother Hubbard, and on and on. 

For some reason things do not want to fall into place.

I can't find the piece that fits today's puzzle.
I am stuck in the dark with no light to guide my path.
I have jumped a wall and lost my balance.
I cleaned my desk and lost my mind.

                          (all references to previous post *Hint* if you haven't read you might try 'em.)

Hmmmmm........  College Football to watch...Nope, to early, still have a little more than a month to go.
My Rangers?  No, that game isn't until later tonight.
I know Soccer (only interested during World Cup time).  Damn, World Cup is already over!

If I can't think of something soon I am going to get desperate.
If I get desperate I don't know what I will do. 
It could be anything........ and "Anything" is scary!
          I shudder at the thought!

I have to do something so that I look busy.

Something has to come to mind.

Just a minute.
I have to look like I am typing and really, really involved in what I am doing and focused because She has just come into the room.

Damn, She is reading over my shoulder as I type.

Gig is UP!

Now I have to close as I am needed for assistance CLEANING the HOUSE.

Will be back later, I hope, if She doesn't find something else for me to DO!

Sun-tzu and Puzzles?

I will hold True to the Title of this blog Anything at Anytime.

For you my Readers, the Reason:

It is what I call "My Puzzle Piece Writings."

Not that all of my writing fits together like a puzzle because I jump from topic to topic, from one thing to another from day to day.  In a weird way they do because they all come from me but I am the only true connection there. 

I start writing with a topic in mind, one I woke up with or found or saw.  It could be about Anything; The Captchas, The Kindle, The Last Grand Adventure, The Perfect Cup of Coffee; well, you get the idea.  anytime an idea strikes me I write about it.  At times it can be a Royal Jumbled Mess. 

I have so much crap running around in my head (Don't We all?), I must break it down and think of it all like a puzzle.  One Giant, Monstrous puzzle that I can't touch and that I have no picture to guide me.

So, I just start to write.  As the writing (pieces) comes out I start looking and seeing if that fits with this and this fits with that.  Sometimes they do.  Most times they Don't!  That's when the Puzzle Hunt Begins!

When I started this blog I knew in my core that it would be like this:
1. It is who I am!
2. It is how my life is, Jumbled and All over the place - and I know I am not the only one like this.
3. You as a Reader have already seen it in previous writings, I am all here and there and everywhere.

Hence the Title of this blog - Anything at Anytime.

Knowing myself well enough that I could not Expect (ever) to say " This is It."  I knew I Could expect of myself to do exactly as I have done so far and will continue to do. 
I like to read and read many, many types of books.  One that I have read off and on over the years is Sun-tzu's The Art of War - it may seem like it is out of place in a blog like this but truly it is a book that if read properly can apply to Every Day Life as well as to Military tacticians.  One of my favorites (paraphrased of course) is:  Knowing yourself and your enemy you will be victorious all the time, Knowing yourself and not your enemy you will sometimes be victorious.  How does this apply?  In Life if we know Who we (as individuals) are and know the situation we can always find a way to accomplish or Win (in essence Victorious), if on the other hand we know ourselves but don't know the situation we Might finish it or be Might be victorious in our endeavors. 

There are many things that Sun-tzu has in his book that can apply to everything.  Having Read and re-read the books I have on the subject, the writing has opened my eyes on how to look at things differently and to allow me to see Me, Myself, what I can do and what I can Not do. 
This enables me to just be me and know that in the end somehow, someway Anything can happen at Anytime and I will write about it as it comes to me. 
Maybe, just maybe fitting the situation to the Puzzle of my writing and I can come up with something that makes us all think, remember or even, yes, smile.

If you ever have a chance read a version of Sun-tzu's The Art of War, there are several versions out there but get one that has his writings and you break it down to how it applies to you.  Apply his writing to your daily life at home, at work, in competition.  You may be surprised about some of the things and how it might change your perception just that little bit that makes things clearer to you.

I know how it has changed my outlook on some things.
But.........
Only You will be able to tell for yourself.

Kindle, like technology & a Prediction

As of yesterday, Anything at Anytime is now available on Amazon.com for the Kindle. 

I figured it would be a way to open up to a larger audience and at the same time maybe pick up a little income so that I could say: "Look Honey, I can still help out a little with the Bills.  Here's my 30 cents."

This site is not built to be a "Money Maker".  If it does make a little, Great!  If not, that is fine as well.  I will not overlook an opportunity to help bring a little into the household income when it is put right in front of me and doesn't cost my family Anything other than my time. 

If you want to see where we are check out this link:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VYBJM0

Amazon sets the prices so I have no control over that.  I just think it is cool that they accepted it so quickly and felt it was worth what they put up there.  People will be able to see Anything at Anytime on things like the picture to the left here, it is a Kindle 2.

Kindle and Like technology- What does it imply and where is it heading us?

First and Foremost - I am NOT being paid for this!  I thought about all of this when my wife and I were discussing where Kindle and similar items could lead.

If you don't know what a Kindle is the most basic description is that it is an Electronic book.  A book with no Pages, A book with NO PAPER (other than the operating instructions when you buy it). 

First off lets start there - a book with NO PAPER.  How many books does a single tree make?  I have no idea and I will put lay odds that most of you have no clue either.  Kindle 2s can hold up to 1500 books, Yes 1500 books, that is not a typo 1500 books.   I don't know about you but I go through books pretty quickly, if I were to read all the time I would more than likely knock out on average 9 books a month.  Because of cost I run maybe 2 new books a month and go back and re-read several old favorites. 

Now, if we were to say that the Average "Joe" reader got in roughly 6 books a year and made up 50% of the market and the below average reader (maybe 3 books a year) and the above average reader (say about 15 books a year) both took 25% of the market apiece.  Take 100 readers, in one Year that is 4250 books!  I am not an expert but I really do not believe that a Single tree can make that many books. 
If 100 out of a 1000 readers had a Kindle that is 4250 books that do not need to be published, just a data transfer to the unit. 
I am not the Greenest person in the world by no means at all.  Green sticks to me about as well as Me catching a Greased Pig - It Ain't Happenin!!!!!

But you Do the Math and Figure out how many books you wouldn't need published?!?

As a Non-Greenie, I could add so much more about other things saving trees could lead to but I am not a Green Preacher.

By the way, when you just read "book" or "books" that is to include magazines and other "printed" materials.

Another Kicker that goes with the Kindle is that you can get your books as soon as they get it in the data base, and get it cheaper than the Hardback printed version.  Most of what I saw scanning around in the sales section for the Kindle was that Hardbacks ranging from $20-$30.00 you could get for download to the Kindle for $9.99.  That alone is a savings of $10-$20.00, and you got it as soon as it was available.  How many books a year do buy and read?  Now do that Math.

Every single one of you that has been reading me regularly is more than likely wondering where I am going with this; well, it definitely is not where you think. 

I am heading towards a prediction and one that could easily shake some and open eyes of others. 

If Kindles and the similar products that are out there take off, as I think they will, We are looking at the beginning of the end of regular Libraries and Printed Books! 

Don't get me wrong, there will still be Libraries but Libraries as we know them will be very, very rare.  Most publications will be printed in very limited runs as "research" materials only.  Everything will be available for download directly to your hand held reader.  Schools are already looking at getting items like this and laptops for the students in order to cut back on papers and books and save money in the long run for their districts. 

Imagine the cost savings for a medium to large city if they could have one Large Central library where everyone could stop in and get their downloads.  No extra building cost as in electricity, water, gas, security.  Take for Example a city like El Paso:  Give them 2  or even 3 Download centers (already existing "Libraries"), closing down or even selling off the other buildings to bring added income into the city, that would mean more funds for Parks, Recreation Facilities, better roads, better trained Police and Fire Depts. (not that they are bad but just more training, training always makes better). 

Those are just the immediate things I can think of off the top of my head.  Give me a Day and I can write you a book/data transfer. 

Libraries as We know them will be gone sometime in the next 25 years if not sooner.  Books as we know them (turning the page to see whats next, or where is the writer taking me now) will be something we see as a museum piece or that precious "research material" that can only be used on location.

Depending upon how you look at it, this can be a Good thing or a Bad thing. 
I Think it is a Good thing.
It will allow us as a People/Society to become paperless, saving trees and forest in the process and allowing Nature to replenish itself.  It will allow financial resources to be allotted for other needs. 

Again, I am not a Green!  The very Nature of the Kindle and similar items just make you Think "GREEN" because it fits so easily. 

If I could afford it I would get a Kindle for everyone in the house because we are a house full of READERS.  In the long run it would save us a ton of money on books and in our small way we would be helping Nature come back as our Parents and their Parents and the Parents before them all knew it. 

Not to mention that sometime in the next 25 years we are all going to need them anyway in order to Read what our Favorite Authors are putting out there for us.

Will We Ever Learn?

"Anything at Anytime" implies that Anything can and will be written about at Anytime. 

Today is no different!
Today I Hope I hit a nerve,
Maybe make you Mad,
Maybe make you Sad,

Most of all Make You THINK!



I have Seen things,

Things that would boil the blood in your veins,

Things that would make your heart weep blood measured only by the flow of a river,

Things that are sad but sometimes must happen, all the sadder because it needs be done.


I have Seen things,

Things to bring a smile upon a child's face,

Things that just by the very nature of them bring out our best (yours and mine),

Things to bring our hearts such joy and wonder, as witnessing the birth of a calf in an open prairie.


My travels around the world have allowed me the chance to see many wondrous and monstrous things.

Somethings I wish I could forget and wipe from my memory like erasing a program or erasing the chalkboard after school for my wife.  As a student of Life and History, I know I can never let this happen.  Allowing yourself to forget History DOOMS you to repeat History!  That "Wheel" always turns around, sometimes faster than we are prepared for.

There are things I have Seen that, at times, I wish I could just stay right there or be a part of without end.  Those moments when everything is or seems too be in perfect harmony.  These moments are Rare but "Oh, so Worth the wait!"  Witnessing the birth of Your Child(ren), the calf being born in an open prairie (actually happened to me on a lone trip to Albuquerque on a back road and not a car within a 30 min drive in any direction, a story for another day), watching Haley's Comet as it passes by on its never ending voyage of the Cosmos, these are but a few of those moments that are worth the wait.  This is the "Wheel" that we should strive to keep rolling on and on.

The Other "Wheel", the "Wheel" of repetitious Doom is caused by not paying attention to the price those before us have paid.  In most of those cases the "Cost" was so High it boggles the mind to think that we as a people would Ever Forget.  "The Crusades", "The War of the Roses", WWI, WWII and the Holocaust, Bosnia, these are but a few examples of "Costly" repetition.  The "Cost" was paid in BLOOD and LIFE!
If We - as a people - can not Learn from those before us, We - as a people - are Destined to repeat those mistakes.

I will put it this way (as simple as I can):  You go to a car lot and  find the car you want to buy.  The Sticker price of the car is say $17,500.00.  You pay cash so you don't have to finance it.  The day after you bought it, it is stolen.  Insurance pays and you go back to the same car lot and find the exact same car, it IS the car you already paid for!  They want another $17,500.00............ Are You going to buy it again?


Why would we want to pay in Blood over and over when we have already done so countless times over and beyond the original "Cost"?


Will We Ever Learn?