September, what a month you've been.

This month literally began with college. I had signed up for the wonderful University of Phoenix (online of course) and my first day of college was September 1st. This has been one of the reasons why I have not had any free time to post on here. My book of the month that I did was The Blue Nowhere by Jeffrey Deaver. This is quite the exciting thriller that delves into the world of computers. I posted on here a memorial to one of the victims of September 11th since the five year anniversary was this year. And to cap it all off, I had a promotion and have been working full time. Very full time. I hope your month went well. See you next time.

My 9/11 tribute to Sgt. Timothy A. Roy.
We all live our lives one day at a time. Some days are more exciting than others, but rarely do our lives go to any extreme. There's only a select few who can say that their lives are truely more exciting than the rest of us. Sergeant Timothy A. Roy, 36, was one of those people who truely lived his life to the fullest. He was appointed to the NYPD on July 8, 1985, and began his career on the NYPD with a patrol in Neighborhood Stabilization Unit 13. Some say that the number 13 is an unlucky one, but it wasn't for him because he was promoted to sergeant in March 1991. In November 1995, he was assigned to the Traffic Control Division, Bus Unit where he would spend the rest of his career. He also worked in the 68, 71 and 73 Precincts in addition to his duties in the Bus Unit. He was"transitized" almost immediately, even though he was not in with the Transit Unit. On September 11, 2001, he gave his life while saving the lives of others. Even though he was off duty, he rushed in to try and save as many people as he could. Heros are created through their actions and Timothy Roy Sr. was and is definately a hero. We all leave behind loved ones when we die and those that he left was his wife Stacey; their children Brittney, Caitlyn and Timothy Jr; his mother Ida Mae; his sister Linda; and his brothers James, an active firefighter but his brothers Doug and John are both retired firefighters, Gary, a retired Housing police officer, and Kenny. His late father Kenneth was a retired FDNY firefighter. He came from a line of heros and he lived as a hero and he died as a hero. We are all in debt to those who paid with their lives saving others.

Tuesday Morning (September 11, 2001)
August 28, 2006
1:00 AM
By jeremy
Tuesday morning
All is calm and serene
A gull takes flight
To a cloudless sky
And Lady Liberty watches on
Tuesday morning
Messengers of hate
With blackened hearts
And poisoned minds
They also take flight
After putting up a fight
Tuesday morning
Lives are lost
Chaos ensues
Two pillars of smoke
From two mortally wounded towers
Fire also burns from the Pentagon
Tuesday morning
They fought back
Giving their lives
So others would not be lost
Tuesday morning
As the Twin Towers fall
A nation cries and grieves together
As Lady Liberty watches on

As some of you know, I have an older sister. I do not get a chance to see my older sister much because she lives a couple time zones away from me. So when she does come to visit, we have a blast and the time just flies away. The last time she came here (in January if I recall correctly), I got to see my niece for the first time in person. She (my niece) will almost be nine months old and from what my sister has been telling me, she has changed quite a bit. Anyway, there's a reason why I am babbling on about my sister. She will be coming here in a couple days for her ten year high school reunion. She will be staying here for six days, and from what it sounds like, those days will fly past. Anyway, that's what's happening in my world.

Quick note: The Perseid Meteor Shower is this weekend (August 11-12). I plan on standing (or sitting) in a very dark field and enjoying the show. It starts at around midnight and usually doesn't peak until 4 am. Just thought I would pass that along.

Is it August already? Wow, has the time flown. Anyway, what's new with me. I am officially a student at the wonderful (online) University of Phoenix. Yes, this is my second week as a college student and I must say, it's a lot of hard work. Although most of the issues I have had to deal with have got to do with the fact that I am using dial up, and that tends to make things rather aggravating. Second, as of yesterday, I have a shaved head. No, I did not join some cult or fascist group; I just really needed some cranial air conditioning. And man does it feel good. So that's what's going on with me. It's been a pretty mellow summer if you don't count my insane schedule. But that is life.

Here's something funny that my Mom sent me via email. I hope you enjoy it.

"You Might Be From Washington if:
1. Know the state flower (Mildew).
2. You feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash.
3. Use the statement "sun break" and know what it means.
4. Know more than 10 ways to order coffee.
5. Know more people who own boats than air conditioners.
6. Feel overdressed wearing a suit to a nice restaurant.
7. Stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the "Walk" Signal.
8. Understand that if it has no snow or has not erupted, it is not a real mountain.
9. Can taste the difference between Starbuck's, Seattle's Best, Veneto's and Tully's.
10. Know the difference between Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye salmon.
11. Know how to properly pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Issaquah, Skokumchuck, Stilliguamish and Pend Orielle County.
12. Consider swimming an indoor sport.
13. Can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese and Thai food.
14. In winter, go to work in the dark and come home in the dark -- while only working eight-hour days.
15. Never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho.
16. Are not fazed by "Today's forecast: showers followed by rain," and "Tomorrow's forecast: rain followed by showers."
17. You cannot wait for a day with "showers and sun breaks."
18. Have no concept of humidity without precipitation.
19. Know that Boring is a town in Oregon and not just a state of mind.
20. Can point to at least two volcanoes, even if you cannot see through the cloud cover.
21. You notice "the mountain is out" when it is a pretty day and you can actually see it.
22. Put on your shorts when the temperature gets above 50, but still wear your hiking boots and parka.
23. Switch to your sandals when it gets about 60, but keep the socks on.
24. Have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain.
25. Think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists.
26. Knew immediately that the view out of Frasier's window was fake.
27. Buy new sunglasses every year, because you can't find the old ones.
28. You measure distance in hours.
29. You often switch from "heat" to "a/c" in the same day.
30. You use a down comforter in the summer.
31. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit under a raincoat.
32. You know all the important seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Raining (Spring), Road Construction Summer), Salmon runs season (Fall).
33.LAST ONE. PEOPLE IN SEATTLE DON`T TAN , THEY RUST!"

Ahh, writer's block

Now you might find it a little odd that I am writing about having writer's block, but I am. I have had this particular form of mental constipation (sorry about that, but there is no other way to describe it) for quite a while now and I am even finding difficulty forming an email. This is not good.

Now, supposedly, there are remedies, but none that I have tried have succeeded. I have done the whole changing of scenery (although part of my problem was that I did not venture far), I've tried to jot down some poetry-which usually works but I couldn't get a single line out, staring at a blank wall, you get the idea.

So if any of you have any remedies that actually work (other than physical injury to myself or others or the absurd notion of quitting caffeine) please feel free to share. I greatly appreciate it.

Post Script: This should come to a big surprise to no one that this is a short post.

Declaration of Independence

In honor of our nation's two hundred and thirtieth birthday, I decided to post the very document that brought it into effect. Upon signing it, each and every man who did became guilty of treason in the eyes of the king and had they lost the War of Independence, they all would have hanged. I just thought I would pass on that tidbit of information. This was found at the National Archives website: http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/declaration_transcript.html

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offencesFor abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:
Column 1: Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

Column 2: North Carolina: William Hooper Joseph Hewes John Penn
South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Column 3: Massachusetts:John Hancock
Maryland:Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot, Lee Carter Braxton

Column 4: Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Column 5: New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Column 6: New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple
Massachusetts: Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat, Paine Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery
Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
New Hampshire: Matthew Thornton

Seattle Post Intelligencer: June 27, 2006 in the A&E section

Harry, others may die in the end, J.K. Rowling says
Author J.K. Rowling said two characters will die in the last installment of her boy wizard series, and hinted Harry Potter may not survive, either.
"I have never been tempted to kill him off before the final because I've always planned seven books, and I want to finish seven books," Rowling said Monday on London TV. "I can completely understand, however, the mentality of an author who thinks, 'Well, I'm gonna kill them off because that means there can be no non-author-written sequels. So it will end with me, and after I'm dead and gone they won't be able to bring back the character.' "
Rowling declined to commit herself about Harry, saying she doesn't want to receive hate mail.
"The last book is not finished. But I'm well into it now. I wrote the final chapter in something like 1990, so I've known exactly how the series is going to end," she said.

Good News!

Last Thursday, a couple things changed for the better. First off, when I woke up, my knee wasn't swollen and I could actually bend it without it hurting. In fact, it did not hurt at all. Second, when I arrived at work, I found out that the location where I work was not closing after all. While I was rather overjoyed with the news, I am still skeptical as to weither the decision is final. I would have posted the good news earlier, but I had a rather busy weekend. I am still considering a part time position at a local Starbucks; because after all, it wouldn't hurt to have a little extra cash. I have also decided to check out the online University of Phoenix. A college degree goes a long way.

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

How much do you stop and think? How often to you ponder all the things you take for granted? Even the simple act of breathing is fascinating when you stop and think about it. Those who have any sort of lung condition can fully appreciate all it takes just to take a breath. The entire digestive system that we take for granted is a very complex process that normal people do not think about until there is something wrong with it. How grateful are you of every meal that you eat? Do you ever stop and think of all the people out there who are going without?

We put so much faith into our daily lives that it is only when something goes wrong do we feel our emotions. Why is that? Why can we not bring our emotions out when we don't need them? What is so taboo about having feelings and expressing them?

When you experience something for the first time is when you appreciate it the most. I can still remember the first meteor shower I saw. There is nothing more humbling than viewing the night sky in a field. The stars above you are so unappreciated that it is truely unfortunate.

Doubt in something does not make it any less real, and an open mind is where ideas flow freely. Try to prove what ever you believe in, even if it is only to yourself. I try and do that at least once a week and I have yet to fail myself.

And finally the less you take life for granted, the more likely you are to appreciate it and enjoy it.

Tales from the Gimp

As if my life isn't insane enough, I had the brains to hurt myself at work. We're not talking rush to the emergency room, just (from what I can tell anyway) a sprained knee. But the way people look at me when I limp about, it's as if I have contracted this horrendous disease and that I am contagious. If I weren't in pain, I would find this highly amusing.

Anyway, my life, in a nutshell, is chaotic. I have been helping out a certain elderly person out of the kindness of my heart, but it has definitely made life "interesting" Now that I am injured, life has become even more difficult. Since she only has one cane, it would be rather rude of me to borrow hers when she needs it more than I.

Since I found out that the location I work at is closing, I have suddenly been recruited to help move another location to a smaller location in the same area. Confused? Join the club. It was in this process where I happened to have tweaked my knee.

At least the people who aren't avoiding me like the plague are a lot more considerate with my physical situation. Both, by the way are good things. You tend to get a lot of work done when you are not constantly interrupted. And dealing with physical pain and restraint does tend to make you move quite a bit slower.

Anywho, that's what's going on in my life. I figured that for the Book of the Month for June, July, and August just pick three classics that you have not already read and do so. May your days be filled and your nights restful.

Just so you know.

I found out a week ago today that the company I work for is closing the location where I work. I have decided that rather than transfer to another location, I am going to find another job. Hopefully Starbucks.

Money, Money, Money

I was rather bored today, so I decided to look up which countries had the most billionaires. As you can tell, this was a rare morning where I had plenty of time on my hands. I normally don't, so I guess that was why I was even online. Anyway, without further ado:
1. USA
2. Japan
3. Germany
4. Italy
5. Canada
6. Switzerland
7. France
8. Hong Kong
9. Mexico
10. UK

There you go. Although I personally do not know any billionaires (or millionaires for that matter) it does not surprise me that we were number one. I had just assumed that the UK would have been higher on the list. I just thought that you would enjoy this little bit of trivia.

It has come to my attention that people aren't really as aware to their surroundings as they imagine they are. I have been walked into, stumbled over, and unintentionally ignored quite a bit. I have been known to repeat the same question to a person several times before they realized that I am talking to them. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence. I have literally had days where my voice goes hoarse just from repeating myself over and over.
Now my voice is not exactly the loudest in the universe, but it is no mouse squeak either. Even if I speak up, it doesn't always work. Or they just think I am yelling at them when I am not. Most of the time, people have this surprised look on their face and ask if I was speaking to them and then apologize. Happens all the time. But occasionally someone will have been deliberately ignoring me and will be offended when I persist. Of course these people come into the store with a chip on their shoulder, so I know it is not my fault. I usually ignore them, because they obviously do not need any assistance.
Anyway, that was my thought of the day. By the way, the Book of the Month for May is Scourge of God by William Dietrich. It is a novel about the Roman Empire and Attila the Hun.

Ah, Spring...Nature's bipolar season

It has come to my attention that I should expect nothing this time of year. Just as I brace myself for a vertical river produced from the charcoal clouds above me, they move on and the sun actually brings some warmth to my skin. But should I make the mistake of taking down that umbrella, I would be met with a very cold shower that I was not expecting.

Am I whining? I'm not sure. I am definitely not expecting much, which means that my hopes are often raised by the solar rays. I actually have a tan, which was brought about by the more frequent sunny days. Although the fact that I am making this announcement will only bring about certain waterworks. At least there aren't any thunderstorms...Yet.

What is the blog entry really about, you may wonder. I do not mention the weather much here and it is not entirely about the weather. For there are other aspects of it that make it nature's bipolar season. The grass, for example, will not stay down no matter how many times you mow it. Sure there are plenty of flowers about, but how many of them are weeds that you are going to have to extract from the ground? Life in general becomes more chaotic this time of year due to things you might have put off and other things that you weren't expecting. Then there's baseball. Never, ever bet on baseball because it's about as predictable as the weather.

I guess that is my real complaint here. I am a baseball fan. It is easily my favorite sport. And yet the home team in which I root for, which SHOULD be doing good, is in fact, not. Why? I haven't a clue. They are about as trustworthy as the temperature. But, like the skies above us all, I have zero control over the outcome.

Anyway, I've ranted long enough. May your days be warm and your lawn be short.

Ah, rain.

There's nothing like the smell after a rain on a summer's day. Except of course if it's spring and it's been raining for a few days. Then it's just depressing. First off, that fresh, clean smell as been washed away. Second, there's no sun in the sky because it's filled with rain clouds. And the temperature, let's just say it is not exactly warm. In fact, it feels like an extension of winter. And with May not too far into the future, this is not a good thing.

May is always the best way to gauge how summer is going to be. June has the habit of starting out like March. It is rather gloomy and wet, but somewhere around the second or third week, summer arrives. So if you want a preview of the rest of the summer, go with May. Trust me on this. If May is cold and damp so will be July.

Anyway that's my thought for the day. I hope you have a good one.

Yes, Yes, I am still alive.

I know I haven't blogged in a while, but time has just gotten away from me. I am currently reading the April Book of the Month (A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking) and I am enjoying it immensly. He really has a way of explaining the universe in plain English. I will try and blog soon (hopefully tomorrow when I have more time to) and it will be a longer one. Anyway, I will post later. Bye.

Books of the Month: March and April

Yes, I know that March is almost over, but the book of the month (if you were wondering) is The Taking by Dean Koontz. All I can tell you is that it involves: T.S. Eliot, the end of the world and an alien invasion. If this has peaked your interest, you will not be disappointed. This has been one of the best books by him that I have read.

For April, the book of the month is A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. I have yet to read this book, but the reviews have really peaked my curiosity. I have read On the Shoulders of Giants, which was a collection of five famous science papers done by five famous scientists (Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, Kepler, and Einstein) which he did commentaries on and I found it fascinating. Anyway, enjoy, and I hope that these two will really make you really think about the stars above you.