Always look on the bright side of life

I used to be a really happy person.

Not that I am unhappy now with anything in particualr, but I used to be the guy who never got upset.

Easy going and laid back...I always said I didn't get ulcers because I was a carrier!

But the older I get the more I seem to lose my temper.

And I'm losing it quicker and quicker.

Little things bother me like never before and when something is going right my reaction is to curse and get mad.

I really don't like being that way!!! LOL!

I'm trying to get better at controling it again, but there are so many different stresses now that as soon as I get one under control another sets me off.

Work.

Money.

Politics.

Work.

Traffic.

Work.

Work.

You get the point...

So for all of you like me here is what I suggest:

Take a moment...take a deep breath...and smile.

Relax.

Whatever it is its not the worst that can happen. And if it IS the worst? Then it can't get any worse!

That's what I am going to try to do for the entire weekend...I'll probably be easier to get along with too!

~ Glenn
(chillaxin')

On the road again...

I just got back from 13 hours on the road doing sales.

I left the house at 5:20am and got home after 8pm!

A lot of riding and a lot of miles...but I'm happy to be back home!

Back to a regular, well thought out blog Thursday...until then enjoy this video that I did about four years ago.

My daughter had our son playing dress up and, well, the video just made itself!




Bitch
Uploaded by 3rdtryproductions

The Box

Its funny how one thought leads to another.

Just the other day I posted how life gets in the way of doing certain things. I barely have enough time for the stuff I'm supposed to do, let alone the things I want to do.

But life, in my opinion, is fluid.

You take it as it comes and even the best plans can get screwed up.

In other words life does not fit into a nice little box.

Some people do not get that.

They think you can regulate everything. Everything should be "just so" and any deviation is a mistake.

Sorry, but life isn't perfect.

Sometimes the kids get sick when you need to be somewhere.
Sometimes a machine doesn't do what it is designed to do, even though it did it every time before and after.
Sometimes the manufacturer knows what is best for the operation of the machine...not you.

I actually had a conversation this morning (well he was talking and I was shaking my head in disbelief and rolling my eyes) where I was told that we needed to change the redial delay on the fax machine.

Yep.

Apparently the fax machine that we have had for over 3 years has a four minute delay for re-dialing if the line is busy.

He wanted it changed to one minute because four minutes is entirely too long.

Seriously.

I wanted to ask if he meant exactly one minute or if 67 seconds might be more perfect.

Who stands around and thinks about these things? The old fax machine didn't even have the redial function. This has been a nice little feature that keeps the secretary from having to keep resending when a line is busy. But now the delay is too long! LOL!

Sorry, but life doesn't fit in a box...even when the item you're talking about did COME from a box.

There are so many things to do and worry about and think about during a day that I can't understand why anyone wants to have THAT much control. You'd lose your mind trying to control every second of your day.

Sometimes things just "are" and you can't change them. Sometimes you CAN change them but maybe you shouldn't because they are that way for a reason.

We didn't change the delay yet.

But I'm sure if we don't it will come up again because it didn't fit in the box.

~ Glenn

When I Need You

Today is the 12th anniversary of one of the biggest days in my life.

Today, in 1996, my lovely wife Michelle and I exchanged vows.

Like any marriage there has been ups and downs and for the life of me I sometime STILL do not understand why she puts up with me! LOL!

She has been my moral compass and the steady hand that keeps me from going to extremes.

She has given me two great children and more support and friendship then I should be allowed in a lifetime.

She has accepted my faults and allowed me to be myself.

She is the one person who can get me to do anything and yet asks for almost nothing.

She knows everything about me and still seems to love me! LOL!

We are not the perfect couple (no one I know is) but we are good for each other and in the end that is all that matters.

I love you honey and I can only wish and hope that we can continue for many more years to come.

~ Glenn

Oops...I did it again!

The blogging ever day thing is hard!

It amazes me how much life can get n the way of just taking 5 or 10 minutes and spewing out some random words to fulfill a self-made promise.

But none the less I miss my post on Saturday so I'll try to do today.

Look for a some great pictures too as we had a community Halloween party last night!

A word about that too, if I may:

People...have a good time when you party, but always remember that there is a tomorrow and someone will remember what you did! I know, I'm the buzz kill, but its amazing how people act like there is some sort of time-space warp during parties and every one's memory will be erased before the next morning! LOL!

More later!

~ Glenn

On the radio

I have been hosting an internet radio show for the past six months.

Every Thursday at 11pm I spend 30 minutes forcing my opinions on an unsuspecting world.

So since I already posted one blog entry today I'm going to be lazy and just repost the show here for people to listen to!



In addition I also post a blog with links to the vaiours stories and stuff so y'all know I'm not pulling it out of my hind end.

Here is a copy of that blog also:

We talked politics for the last time before the election with an emphasis on how unready Sara Palin is for the job.

So I turned to some people I trust for information on the presidential candidates. Two people with just slightly less experience than Mrs. Plain: My six year old son and my ten year old daughter.


Since Sarah Palin and Tall couldn't answer a third grader's question I pulled out a great novelty song form the host of "Are you smarter than a 5th grader", Jeff Foxworthy. A duet with Jeff and Alan Jackson "Games Rednecks Play."

Here's your weird news for the week also:

1) Five steps to remaining sane...where's the fun in that?
2) A woman goes to the emergency room with a broken leg, never sees a doctor and gets billed!
3) Your choice...pay your bill at the waffle house or go to jail.Next week...60 MINUTES!!!All halloween novelty songs and clips! Perfect for saving and playing at YOUR party on halloween!


Don't forget to look me up on Myspace and Facebook and add me as a friend!


Talk to you then!~ Glenn

Yesterday

Well, that didn't take long.

I forgot to blog yesterday...and I realize there are not that many people even reading at this point but I feel obligated to at least throw a line or two up!

So I'll post two today...yay me.

I really didn't forget yesterday.

I prefer to blog after the kids have gone to bed at night...but I went to bed.

I knew, I just blew it off.

Welcome to my world...lol!

So here to make up for it is one the friggin' funniest videos I have seen in forever and a day:

Let it go

There are, as of this writing, two weeks until we as Americans select the one person who will represent us to the rest of the world.

Let's look at the choices:

1) John McCain - A long time public servant who also served his country bravely in the Vietnam War.

His running mate is Sarah Palin. Governor of Alaska with limited experience in politics but shes cute and apparently loves her family enough to try and get a guy fired for divorcing one of her family members.

2) Barack Obama - Senator from Illinois with limited government experience but a youthful enthusiasm.

His running mate is Joe Biden...basically John McCain with a bigger mouth.

Scary isn't it?

What is scarier to me is that some people will be voting for one of those pairs simply because of race.

John Murtha said that Western PA (the area I live in) is essentially racist...and the media went nuts.

But he was right.

Right now I could name you over two dozen people, people I know personally and who I could count as friends, who simply will not vote for Obama because he is black. People who are lifelong democrats. People who never even bothered to examine either person's tax plan, or health care plan, or ANY plan.

Driving through our county I would put the ratio of Obama signs to McCain signs at roughly 1 to 100, and this county hasn't voted a Republican into a meaningful political position since Abraham Lincoln.

But its more than that. I talk to people and they will tell you in no uncertain terms that just won't vote for a black guy. (Well, one guy would. He's a rabid right-winger who makes Ronald Regan look like, well, his son Ron. He'd vote for a black guy if he was a true conservative...or so he says.) One guy told he's voting for Obama because he figures he'll get assassinated and Biden will make a better president then any of the other people running.

A teacher in Florida got suspended for a racial joke about what change really means.

Rush Limbaugh says Colin Powell only supports Obama because he is black. (Does that mean Rush only supports McCain because he is white?)

Sorry kids...race is still important and it may decide this election.

Think about that for awhile: The position of the President of the United States of America may be decided by a bunch of racists who don't care a whip about what is best for them...except that they don't want a black guy telling them what is best for them.

That is scary.

I'm Glenn and I approve of this message.

Everybody hurts sometime

My knee hurts...lol.

I've always battled my weight...with it winning most of the time.

When I was younger I was always heavy, but I was active. I love playing basketball, football, anything sport that I could get a pick up game going in.

But for the last several years (like 10) I've been way too far over weight and not nearly active enough.

I've tried several diets and the one that has worked the best for me is the Atkins diet, which I am currently on again. It works for me because I never get tired of eating meat and cheese and eggs!

It always works for me because I have been fortunate to never have a problem with high cholesterol or heart disease. Even while on the diet. Maybe I have good genes?

Anyway, my knees have never been great, but they have always held out for the most part.

Tonight they didn't hurt either until I tried to bend the left leg and it felt like there was a band around my knee. Its a little swollen, but I banged it against the car door last week and twisted it tossing a football with my son the same day.

Naturally I won't call the doctor...its not in my DNA to run to the doctor every time something is slightly out of order with my body. I like to let the body heal itself, but I'm afraid with my advancing years it is healing slower and slower! LOL!

Sadly, that's the most interesting thing that happened today!

I'll put some ice on it ignore it and hope it goes away!

~ Glenn

Losing my religion.

The diocese of Greensburg closed my home church today.

Well technically it will close October 30th, but today was the last mass at St. Vincent de Paul.

The announcement was made two weeks ago. The Bishop said it was after three years of studies and meetings and after all that they gave us two weeks to say goodbye.

The church was established in 1888 when the area of Fayette County was vital and alive. 120 years later the area is depressed and dying. Over the years the businesses could not adapt to the changing business climate and owners simply moved away. choosing the easier route of moving to greener pastures rather than making hard choices to stay where they were supported by their employees and the communities that sprouted up around them.

I understand the business decision that the diocese made. You only have so many employees (priests) to fill so many jobs (parishes) and you make cuts when and where you can. But this isn't a business...this is the Roman Catholic Church.

Spreading the word of Jesus Christ for over 2000 years.

Starting and fighting wars.

Being martyred and killing in the name of the Lord.

This building that will be closed forever is not the only one I have attended in my life. I was born to a catholic family and attended catholic school my entire life so I think I understand a little bit about how the church runs.

And I don't like the way it is running today.

Especially, in closing this parish, the Bishop has said that the priests time is more important than that of the congregation. For the past five years our parish has shared a priest with another parish about two miles away. The priest was required to spend two hours a week at our parish.

That is all.

Now, in the wisdom of the diocese not only will he not have to do that he will only have to do two masses at the other parish. That will force people to change their mass choices and cause undue stress on the resources of the remaining parish. (Cramming twice the number of people into the same space.)

And the Bishop says "it is not about what is nice, but what is necessary."

Good for him.

As the church has evolved (how do you spell "irony"?) over the centuries into the current business model that it is today I've found a certain hypocrisy that while it claims to be more modern in its business practices it can not modernize its theology.

Basically priest cannot get married.

I understand the reasoning: Jesus never said they could, he didn't, so they don't. Period.

And yet other things have changed:

Lay ministers can distribute the Eucharist.
Altar girls.
Non-Latin masses.
Removal of kneelers at the altar.

The list goes on...but priests cannot get married in the roman Catholic faith.

Has it damaged other faiths? I've seen no evidence that says a married minister cannot continue to perform his duties. Nor have I seen where un-married ministers perform their duties any better than married ones.

So rather than look at this one simple change that may lead to the relief of the priest problem they continue to leave their heads stuck in the theological sand and say "our hands are tied."

The parishioners go above and beyond to support their home churches. They give time and money. They do all they can...except what the Church will not let them do. And it because of that one thing that the churches are being closed.

So in an area where the churches are the last ties to a time of prosperity they are now being taken away just like the businesses were over the years. Do to an inability to change and a desire to what is necessary...not what is nice.

Here are some pictures from the last mass.

The saga begins

So why would I celebrate the year before I turn 40?

A couple reasons:

1) I never planned to live that long! For years my running joke was that I didn't expect to live past 40 and now with the date just one short year away I'm starting worry that I was either right ...or wrong! Either way I'm screwed!

2) Why not? I know that sound over simplistic, but its true. I plan to enjoy every day until next October 18th (and hopefully beyond) as a way of helping others ease into their 4th decade.

As the year unfold I'll be posting every day.

Some will be short thoughts, others will be my typical long diatribes on whatever has set me off that day.

I encourage everyone to share their thoughts on getting older, er better.

Like any life there will be ups and downs and I look forward to every one of them!

So, since it IS my birthday I'm going to take the rest of the day off!