A Rant for a Friend: The Musical

*Note: I own NO rights to the Images and/or Music in this Post. I just am using it to make a Point...

( Source:  http://s3-media2.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/7zOnkaZMjqFTZ_fUrC-0UA/o.jpg )

Recently, a friend of mine and I, just had lunch, and afterword, I walked away with a sad view of the state of things. If anything, I couldn't believe how messed up things were; I couldn't believe, that so many things could blow up, fall through, be misread, et cetera. The age we live in, lacks so much horse sense, I seriously keep coming back to the idea of living in a little hamlet in the sticks, to gain peace and sanity, upon the completion of my education. Then again, I better check what kind of internet connections they have, before deciding on the matter.

Let's start with something easy, "Misread Signals." The Friend I just had lunch, separated from a friend he had a complicated relationship with. He originally had one of these "No Strings Attached" relationships (NSA), with her. But about Six or so months back, he told her that he Loved her. In hindsight, he realized that the girl was very, very bad at reading subtexts in situations (she mistook an offer of sharing some Wonka "Nerds" candy, as an insult, calling her a "Nerd." He was just offering some candy to share.). She told him she wasn't ready for "love," but she didn't really realize, that he was saying "I'm done with this NSA stuff, I want a serious relationship with you." And things degraded over the next six months, with the awkward arrangement continuing, until an incident happened, and she used it as a parting of the ways, even though what he did, was not anywhere meriting a comparison to the Two to Three Years of Psychological Abuse, she was put through, by her last "boyfriend." She wasn't innocent in the situation either, but in retrospect, my friend said that "...It was just one in a long line of abuse she's faced in her life, ranging from unethical doctors and treatments, to poor treatment by pious folk, to physical violation, to psychological violation by boyfriends and parents. She's embittered from her experiences, and she has every right to decide how to handle it, in spite of the fact that she's more than able to change the paradigm and rise above it all, she still continues to wallow in it." He gave her the most understanding face he could, when she stated that "It would take a long time for her to build trust in him again," and that she wanted to explore more, try and lure one of two guys she liked in her physics classes at their community college, make female friends, et cetera. However, he realizes that he was more of a doormat to lay her problems on, in the whole relationship. He gave her support, usable tools of advice, and the proverbial and literal "shoulder to cry on," all with civility, calm, and stregnth. He rarely, if ever, put sever personal burdens at her feet, but at the end of the day, he was a doormat. He doesn't want anything to do with her anymore, not because of guilt, but because he doesn't want to be on egg shells, being brought down, or any other mess, associated with her. He's now free to "...be as political, faithful, civil, uncivil, blunt, high-brow, and most of all, his true and horse-sense, common-sense self, as he wants to be!" At one point, a week or so ago, he was at an early Halloween Dance. He was hoping that she would be there, and somehow, they would make up. She didn't show. He hoped for something, in the vein of... Give a hand, for the music Eddie Money:

That didn't happen, and worse over, the DJ didn't play "Thriller." He played plenty of Michael Jackson, but NO "Thriller!" What kind of Halloween Dance (since the 1980's), doesn't have "Thriller" played during the course of the event? He had plenty of Michael Jackson, a bit of Bruno Mars, Eurythmics, even some "R.E.S.P.E.C.T." from Aretha, but NO "Thriller"? What kind of DJ is he? Especially since he, according to my friend, had played it in past dances! He snapped himself back into a re-assertive self, and brushed off the dashed hopes, then went to Denny's, dressed as a Greaser- none-the-less!

Back to the main topic though, applauding the surface, I'm more than delighted in the fact that he told her what she wanted to hear, to rest her conscience, then does an about-face, and has now cut her entirely from everything. He doesn't even say "hello" in passing. He's dropped her like a stone, and what does it feel like to him...? Ladies and Gentlemen, the incomparable, the soulful, the powerful... Adele:

My friend also said that "...He's with me, not voting for any of the Presidential Candidates, rather focusing up to Congerss. He also told me that he wouldn't be voting for either of the gubernatorial candidates either." Both are in favor of "Bus Rapid Transit," instead of a North-South Rail Line, paralleling 4/5th's of King County's "I-405," and instead, the King County Council, and their Mercedes-Benz driving, Eco-Fascist Hypocrites, backed by "Big Tech," is making essentially a "Heroine Highway" trail system from Milton, Washington, all the way to Mount Vernon, while Transportation, Social, and Economical policies, favor "Big Tech," and we the common man, have no seats at the Sound Transit Table, and Sound Transit is becoming more and more a "Rich Man's Toy." Now we're being asked to pay for the Rich Man's new "Train Set," that will take a Quarter Century to Build, and Go NOWHERE useful, while the common man, gets "Bus Rapid Transit," the Heroin Problem gets worse, the Homeless Issue is about to go Critical Mass, Race Relations are Souring and they're all just twiddling their thumbs, with their heads in the sands of their Private Beaches around the more affluenzic shores of Lake Washington! Ladies and Gentlemen, give it up for Barry McGuire: 

My Advice, to my Friends, vote by conscience, vote up to Congress, to make true change, to beans with the Presidential Election- The Electoral College will do as it will, unless you're Kevin Costner, screw the Gubernatorial Candidates in Washington State, vote NO on Prop. 1/Sound Transit's ST3 budget, Vote Yes on 1464- to find out who's really paying for Political Ads, and pray for a miracle on November 8th!

In closing, that was a good lunch between me and my friend. We saw eye-to-eye on a lot, and thank goodness for it. We later saw and joined a flash-mob dance party, jamming to some sweet tunes. I close this musical with some Up-Beat fun. And now, put your hands together, for Mark Ronson, and Bruno Mars!:

 

That's my Soap Box for the week. Thanks for Reading.

*******

Fin

(~Fictus~)

Life: Should be Sought. Relationships: Should be cared for. Growth: Should be Life-Long. Self: Should be taken care of, first.

( Source: http://blog.drugsinfo-bg.org/sdfg-w/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/love-myself.jpg )

A word of the wise in this day and age: if you ever consider an NSA (No Strings Attached) Relationship, they're not worth it. If you find someone you really fancy, and you resort to that, as a relationship starts, you're making a damned fool of yourself. I see it too often. It may last for a while, but in the end, you end up just a mess, and many a time, you lose a person worth fighting for. Once, a guy I know tried to stop the NSA he had with a girl, so he could give her a proper relationship, by getting up the nerve to tell her he loved her. She wasn't ready for those words, that meant so much to him (her last relationship had ended badly), so he continued unwillingly with the NSA- the informal relationship they had started with. He wanted to be serious, but unwillingly, he accepted reality. A few months later, they had a falling out. She told him, that she wanted him around, as a friend, not closing the door on a future relationship. (She's now trying to woo two boys in her physics classes into being interested!) He told her what she wanted to hear, but he told me, as far as he's concerned, the door be as well closed.

The fallout was bad enough, that he can't trust himself in any sort of relationship with her again, friend, lover, or otherwise; he tried, gave himself, but it wasn't enough. He's accepted it, and is moving on to take care of himself more. I told him that's a good thing. He did so much for her, and her as well, but as I told him- "...You made the right call to go ghost mate. You need to take care of yourself. She was descent to be honest, in spite of you trying to be honest with her months back. Just remember tough: Seek out and explore life. Take care of your relationships. Keep growing, all life long. Your own self, is the only one you have, so you need to take care of you."

(Source: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/f8/0c/ec/f80cec74ed178e38e1ad5da181a7e78f.jpg )

People need to be more socially self-sufficient, in their life. So it's NOT "...So Whatever..." Instead of whining about how none of your friends want to "go to museums," "play laser tag," "hike a foothills trail," et cetera, go do it yourself. Go out and meet people, as you travel through the day. Take a cooking class. Ride a Ferris Wheel, go to a Festival, heck- go ride a bus from one end of its route to the other, or even just go to a park, and stroll around- maybe even pet a dog (with their owner's permission, of course!). Life is out there, you just need to buck-up and seek it. And in the process, you'll make new friends along the way, who want to do this stuff!

( Source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCefCTx9YHINBZNzNQZ0_buFKonbr8Lejmlt9KexrBJPDCGPkTTmpsDLYWdZzBj8x9lQVGCu9459zSMz9p9AONAlBtmFxsFfvOdiA3qEU2wCzZ6zQKTxxnYke6yFQPr_sc17StxFF3R2o/s1600/personalgrowthmeme.jpg

It's seeking life, that is the biggest part of Personal Growth. Growth should last your whole life, for, if you don't change, what point is your life. Life isn't static, life is flowing, ebbing, flourishing, floundering, and so, so beautiful and brutal. I'm not the same person I was five years ago, or ten, or even a day ago. I'm learning, creating, growing; we all are really, but we need to keep moving, keep living, and keep being curious about the world around us, to truly thrive with Personal Growth. And with personal growth, you should always strive to be the best you can be, as one Author, responsible for "Bull Running's Popularity" put it:

( Source: http://www.geekfill.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Ernest-Hemingway-On-Personal-Growth.jpg )

Hemingway, makes a great point, and so does Nelson Muntz:

( Source:  http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bYsZKP_kVMUJoKpw39QykTt2nSghjG5nY16W5oyBB9IkUWa7QY826WHokrEPp9oYZfMSIBo9DM8uFQVa43PetfI=s240 )

In short, Personal Growth is necessary; it won't be easy, but it's necessary. Anything worth the time will be difficult, but in the end, it makes you better, because you put in the time, because you are worth the effort to do so. You're worth it.

( Source: memegenerator.com )

With all of that growth, you've got to keep it in check. That's why you take care of your self. That goes beyond looks folks. It's mental maintenance as well. You need to really be careful what you think, what goes into your mind, and how you handle all of it. Thinking before you speak, thinking before you act, deciding your mindset, all are underrated-yet-crucial skills, you need to handle your mental care. If people put half as much effort into their mental self, as they do the physical self, the world would be a lot better off. Imagine, a world of people who look descent, and were actually half descent to each other, every single day. "Do unto others, as you would have done unto you," would actually be the rule, rather than the exception. A world where the Mental Self, is thought of as much as the Physical Self, could solve a mighty lot of problems.

(Source: memegenerator.net)

So, once you start seeking life, growing yourself, and taking care of yourself, Relationships of all kinds, are a piece of cake- a cake walk, right? NOT! You still need to work on those too, as healthy relationships are a two-way street. It goes back to that "Do unto others, as you would have done unto you" business; you've got to treat others, as you'd want to. Treat rotten, you get rot. Treat kindly, you get kindness back. See, two way street. Healthy Relationships- of any kind, involve Respect, Interest, and Clear Communication channels. Respect who you're friends/lovers/family with, and they'll do so as well. Always take an interest in the other's thoughts, daily lives, et cetera (listen carefully, you may actually learn something), even if it isn't interesting, as a sign of respect and understanding. Keep your communication as clear as possible, because mixed signals, un-understood implied things, even misreading body language, can scramble the lines, and muck everything up. Communication is key, to growing healthy relationships. I can't emphasize enough, that Respect, Interest, and Clear Communication, go hand-in-hand-in-hand, toward making Healthy Relationships- of any kind, possible realities.

In Closing, the summary's clear: Life should be sought. Relationships should be cared for. Growth should be Life-Long. And Self, should be taken care of, first. I can't say it simpler enough. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got assignments and fiction writing to do. I'm going to cruse on down the highway now...

( Source: https://assets.blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads//2013/09/1956Packard400_02_700.jpg )

It Matters at the Local and the State...

WARNING: If you're staunchly entrenched in National Political Parties, this isn't the Post for you. This is encouragement to speak-up to effect your local issues, your hometown's well-being, and make your voices count, where it matters the most.  Voting at the local level, and pride in community, is the heart of Patriotism, in it's most pure, uniting Non-Partisan form.

"O God and Heavenly Father,

Grant to us the serenity of mind to accept that which cannot be changed; courage to change that which can be changed, and wisdom to know the one from the other, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen." 

- The Serenity Prayer

Vote at the local level. Vote for your Governor, your Mayor, your City Council, Sheriff, Judges, ballot measures that can make or break the future. Vote a Dog for Mayor, vote for your hamlet's "Village Idiot." Vote by Your Conscience, Brush-Up on the Issues Facing your Area, Brush-Up on your Candidates' stances and Make a Difference around your neck-of-the-woods. Patriotism's heart, lies in non-partisan ideals, that your vote, your voice, influences the world around you and your home. Take pride in your community, vote, and keep the home fires burning. Some may say, that it's irresponsible to let (any one) of these nuts, into the White House. It's EVEN MORE irresponsible, to not vote on the Local Level, and to a good close second, the State Level.

Now, Me and a few of my friends (from Young Bucks, to Grandfathers) have come to the conclusion, that not a soul of sound mind and constitution, can reasonably choose between an Egotistical and Thin-Skinned Blowhard, a Flip-Flopping and Pathological Liar, a Discrediting Idiot, and a Hippy Eco-Facist. Therefore, we are ABSTAINING from voting for the highest office in the land. If You choose between the lesser of evils, you still choose E-V-I-L, Period. Our votes don't count a dime exactly for the Presidency. Unless you're Jeff Bridges, the Electoral College will do as it sees fit for themselves first, and the country... Well... Somewhere down the list. If you believe you need to vote for the next residents of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20500, then go right ahead and do so (it's all about the bluest blood to the First President anyway). You do you, and I'll do me; agree to disagree, and respect each other's decisions.

The District of Columbia, doesn't mean a dime, and frankly, Will Rogers' words matter more now, than ever before:

"You can't beat an Administration by attacking it. You have to show some plan of improving on it."

"But I must get back from these political parties and get back to civilization, for there's nothing in common between politics and civilization."

"Talk about our civilization! Why, if they ever took a sanity test at a political convention, 98 per cent would be removed to an asylum."

"On account of us being a democracy and run by the people, we are the only nation in the world that has to keep a government four years, no matter what it does. 

"Imagine a man in public office that everybody knew where he stood. We wouldn't call him a statesman, we would call him a curiosity."

"In this country, people don't vote for; they vote against."

"A statesman is a man that can do what the politician would like to do but can't, because he is afraid of not being elected."

"If 'pro' is the opposite of 'con,' what is the opposite of Congress?"

No wonder there's a statue of him in Congress! These days, Horse and Common Sense, are far and lacking. If you made it this far, just let us be. This is why I love Dogs... They Do NOTHING for Political Reasons, even when they're the Mayor of a town:

http://myfox8.com/2016/08/24/minnesota-town-re-elects-dog-as-its-mayor/

(Source: https://localtvwghp.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/mayor.png)

A long time, but life's moving forward. Who wants to "Paint a Continent"?!

So, due to recent events, a friend and I are parting ways. It's a sad but good note. Nobody said life was going to be easy, but life certainly throws the curve balls.

Source: (https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aA5bqeg-Yv0/maxresdefault.jpg / Copyright Disney Channel 2008-2015, all rights reserved.)

Clearing my mind, I'm going to focus on building a better self. I'm going to cross off things I've been meaning to do. Here's a list:

• Fix several model steam locomotives I have.
• Remotor several locomotives with bad/no motors.
• Reassemble several steam locomotives, I recently purchased as parts. 
• Finish building two steam locomotives, I bought as projects.
• Take up painting again.
• Find a new camera, and start taking better photographs.
• Make new friends.
• Be more adventurous.
• Visit old friends.
• Do more writing.
• Submit my writing.
• Find cool restaurants.
• Catch up on my favorite shows.
• Maybe start a "Start-Up."
• Build a rocket.
• Fight a Mummy.
• Climb up La Tour Eiffel.
• Discover Something that has long thought, not to exist.
• Give a Simian a shower.
• Surf Tidal Waves.
• Create Nano Bots.
• Locate Frankenstein's brain.
• Find a Dodo bird.
• Paint a continent.
• Drive my Aunt Debbie insane (she's the closest thing I have to a sister).
• Make a Title Sequence.
• And Much, MUCH MORE!!!

Okay so half of my list, mirrors the "Phineas and Ferb" theme song, but seriously, I am going to focus on my self, and make things happen! Now, does anybody have motors and/or parts for Rivarossi, Mantua, and/or Penn Line model trains?! (I'm Serious.)