UPDATE

I want to let those of you who have been looking for new posts know that I haven't given up. My original idea for the blog was to discuss some of my more interesting thoughts. I want to keep it positive, so I will try and keep the rants to a minimum. I have have loads of stuff to rant about lately, but those all will get into a negative realm, and I'd rather not do that.

So thank you for checking in, and I will be sure get get crackin soon. I just need to get some inspiration, and then actually follow up on it.

Cheers
kev

Mean People Suck

Why do people have to be so mean?



I ask this question myself and others quite often. I have formulated my own answer that I share with others, but never really know is correct. That is, people are mean and/or nasty, because they want other people to be miserable like them. Instead of trying to look to the "light", they want others to join in their darkness. To bring them down to their level.



I have a theory. Call it.......Kevin's Theory of Relative Light Attraction. It goes like this. People who give off/exude "the Light" will attract others who do the same. Those who shine their light also are attracted by "the Light". Those who do not know "the Light" or have it, will not recognize it.



The Light is the aura, the love, the beam of kindness, the vibe you get/give. Again, if you have no idea what I am talking about, you may not have it.



Good/happy people attract good/happy people.



I try to surround myself with those folks. It's in everyday life that you come upon the "dark" or angry & bitter people. That's when I realize it the most. Conversely, I can be on the street walk by someone and get a HUGE dose of happy. A big smile, or an eye to eye "good morning". That's other side of the spectrum. I do what I can everyday to pass on some kindness, happines, and at the very least a smile. Emotions are contagious. Let's have a pandemic of happy.

That smile, or kind word could be the one that turns the dark to light, or just makes a small difference in that person's world that day.

let your love light shine

I'm a bit bored - Current affairs - UPDATED

When I started this blog, I didn't mean for it to be a political, or full of opinion. I just wanted to have a place to vent the ideas that I bounced around in my head. However, I find myself on a rainy Sunday with not much to do, and an urge to write.

There are a few things/issues lately that have bugged me. Here are a few.

The hikers in Iran and the journalists in Korea

- ok, seriously?? WTF are you doing in that part of the world? Is it a BIG surprise that you might get yourselves into a shitty situation?? C'mon people! I am glad the 2 journalists are safe, and that Big Willie came to the rescue. (I heard that as soon as he heard there was 2 Asian women involved he was half way out the door). So much time effort and money I am sure was wasted on people being a bit stupid. In the Rockies and other places, if you ski/board out of bounds and need to be rescued, guess what? You get the tab. The same should be for these journalists. At least have Mr. Excitement, Al Gore pick it up. He's loaded, no?

These hikers in Iran...REALLY?? I get that they wanna hike in some remote area. I do. I lived in CO, and the solitude of being in the middle of nowhere is exquisite. But IRAN?? even Iraq is a bad idea. What's wrong with OUR country? Utah, Colorado, The Dakotas all very remote. I mean, do they not know that it's a bad area? I live blocks from Camden. I know it's a bad area, therefore I don't go there. Blocks away. Iran's gotta be a good 10 hour flight. They went OUT OF THEIR WAY to go there. Again, I don't feel so bad for you guys.

The Legality of Tobacco vs. Cannabis

This is the definition of a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance per the D.E.A.
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/abuse/1-csa.htm

Schedule I
• The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
• The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
• There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.

Ok, so there it is. Straight from the horse's mouth. Now I know the answer to this question, and it's a matter of money. I get it. But I am not sure if there is a more blatant, obvious contradiction than legalized tobacco.

We now know that cigarettes are loaded with chemicals. We know that it causes cancer and a boat load of health problems.
http://www.thetruth.com/facts/

We know that they are addictive. When Ozzy Osbourne says they are the toughest thing to quit, then I think they may be a little addictive.
http://www.exposay.com/ozzy-osbourne-struggled-to-quit-smoking/v/11283/

Soooo, WTF are they doing in every Wawa, 7-11, gas station, and convenience store in America?
And why is something as natural as cannabis on this list and NOT legal?? It just smacks of hypocrisy. I don't smoke cigarettes. My Dad did for many years, as did my brother. Thank God, they both were able to quit. My grandfather died of lung cancer due to smoking. These are very bad things, yet they continue to be accepted and legal.

I LOVE to watch people standing outside of their office buildings, bars, restaurants, etc. catching that butt in frigid, frost bite inducing temperatures. It almost makes me giddy. What more evidence do you need that these people are addicts? Now I have to admit, I have my vices, and I am certainly not holier than anyone else, but I am trying to make a point.

I will be more than happy to allow you to smoke a cigarette and foul the air I breathe and stink up my clothes and hair as soon as I am able to spark a J right next to you. What are the cigarette smokers' arguments for not legalizing cannabis? It's addictive? It's a drug? WHAT??

Tobacco use kills more than 400,000 Americans and costs the nation $96 billion in health care bills each year. Every day, another 1,200 lives are lost and more than 1,000 kids become new regular smokers.

I hope that all of the increase in taxes on cigarettes cause the price of a pack of smokes to go north of $10 per pack. Shit, make it $20 per pack. Let's really stick it to these people.
How about legalizing and taxing cannabis the same way? In fact, I would support legislation that would pay for the health care of chronic cigarette smokers that was paid directly with all of the tax revenue from cannabis. That way, smokers can continue to kill themselves with cigarettes and have their cancer treatments for free. No guilt at all.

There are 14 of the 50 states (28%) that have active medical marijuana programs since 1996.
http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3391

People are understanding that the laws are outdated and misinformed. The people suffering from AIDS and cancer FEEL that benefits of it and how it helps their suffering and quality of life. In addition, it's the people that are voting for this. The people who want this option available. I just am constantly befuddled at the fact that this is such a dilemma or struggle to pass legislation. I guess it's the fear mongering that pervades this country. Oh, and yeah the income that the tax revenue would bring would literally save cities and states right now.

Again, it's not as much why isn't pot legal (although it is a bit), but more why and how are we stupid enough to continue to allow cigarettes to be legal? Maybe the fact that the President has now moved tobacco under the rule of the FDA, that maybe, just maybe there may be some movement.
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/fda/index.shtml

Who do you know that has died from cigarette smoking?

Now think of the people that you know who have died from smoking a few joints?

http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_health2.shtml

That's my rant on this Sunday.

UPDATE

Shortly after my post this article/report came out.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32554745/ns/health-addictions/

here are a few incredibly disturbing facts from the report about this still legal drug (not Schedule 1)

Tobacco kills one-third to one-half of those who smoke. Smokers die an average of 15 years earlier than nonsmokers.

The risk of dying from lung cancer is more than 23 times higher for men who smoke than for nonsmokers and 13 times higher for women smokers

"One hundred million people were killed by tobacco in the 20th century. Unless effective measures are implemented to prevent young people from smoking and to help current smokers quit, tobacco will kill 1 billion people in the 21st century," the report predicts.

WTF people???

Hit the showers

I love taking a shower.

Whether it's early in the morning, mid-day, or even at night, taking a shower always makes me feel better...in both mind and body. It is my sanctuary, my quiet place, my place for prayer and meditation. A shower for me is not only the actual enclosure, but also the water itself, and the experience as a whole.

As with most things in this blog, I have come to this epiphany of self knowledge recently. And, YES, it was while I was in the shower that I decided to blog about it.

It's more than just the water running down your body. It's the actual surroundings as well.

Outside showers are the best. Growing up, I was fortunate enough to have a 2nd home in Sea Isle City, NJ. I was a beach baby. First in Avalon, then to Sea Isle. The outside shower "downashore" is not only essential, but standard plumbing. Each house had a roughly built plywood and 2 x4 enclosure. Some had wooden grates on the floor, some were just bare concrete, or God forbid stones. I actually helped build ours. Not too shocking, since my father was a big fan of indentured servitude. But that is a topic for another blog.

The outside shower was necessary at the beach so as to not bring sand into the indoor plumbing and clog it up. So after a long day at the beach (or surfing) baking in the sun, swimming in the ocean, playing in the sand, you were ready to wash up.

Now this brings up another issue that I will cover later, that involves "heat" in the shower. Having sunburn, as I did most of my life due to being pasty Irish white, in the shower can lead to a very unpleasant experience in the shower. You will know EXACTLY where you are burnt when you get into a shower that is too hot, or too cold.

But getting in the shower and getting the water going was so refreshing. The enclosure that we built went from mid-shin to low neck. So it wasn't all boxed in. Fresh summer breezes blowing in, the warm orange glow of the even sun, the cool water washing the salt and sand off. Ahhhhhh.

Then the soap (usually Dove) and shampoo. It seemed as if you were never so clean as you were after a beach shower. Squeaky clean.

If I could have an outdoor shower, I would and would use it as much as possible. Maybe it was the "communing with nature" or the feeling of openness, but I love a good outdoor shower.

As most of us don't have a shore house, indoor showers are the norm. I am so weird with my affinity for showers, that I have certain physical showers that I still recall fondly. I prefer a tub shower, as opposed to standup stall showers. My good friends, Sacha and Jim built a beautiful shower with soapstone (I think) with a nice bench and sealed it in glass and have a steamer, so it doubles as a steam room! This shower is in the Kevin Shower Hall of Fame. John Walter has a lovely shower as well. His bathroom has a sunlight and also a wonderful full coverage shower head.

This is another area of discussion. Now I don't get too carried away with shower heads. I do try to buy ones that give a good wide spray with decent flow, but for the most part I keep it simple. The ladies, I understand, have more a liking to the hand held version with the various settings. This I certainly can undertand, but alas I do not avail myself to these types of shower heads.

John has the "rainfall" type head, similar to the picture above, but much larger. This a wonderful feeling of being in a rainfall and being totally drenched.

Bottom line here, is get what you like. Try a few different ones out.

If I had the room and money, I would have a comfortable seat in my shower as well. For long term thinking, and to also enjoy the steamroom effect as well. Double heads or multiple heads are also something amazing, although it can feel like you are in a car wash at times.

The shower is my favorite way to get warm or cool down. A little trick that I use in the summer time is to jump in the shower and get it as cold as I can handle. From there I try to soak my "hot spots". Behind your neck, under your arms, and your groin area. The longer and colder the water is on those spots, the quicker you will cool your body core. It's a bit torturous, but afterwards you will definitely be cooler. Same in the winter. A hot shower does wonders to get you warm on a cold, blustery, winter day.

The shower is such a great place to literally and figuratively get cleansed in both mind and body.

Give yourself the time in the day to take your time and enjoy. Relax. Take some deep breaths. FEEL the water. Each drop as it hits you and rolls down. Listen to the white noise of the water. Stop the madness, and listen to what's truly going on in your heart and soul. Smell the soap, the shampoo, the conditioner. Let it soothe you. Stretch a little bit. Then when you think you are done, stay a few minutes longer. Then grab a big clean fluffy towel and wrap yourself up like you did as a kid. I guarantee the world will feel a little bit more bearable and hopefully, life a little clearer.

Now, Hit the Showers!!!