BLAST OFF 2006!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BLAST OFF 2006

The beginning of 2006 has simply been surreal for me. My clock is out of whack and I have been staying up later than usual. As a testament to that, I am writing this blog entry during the 11 p.m. hour after downing a Starbuck's latte.

After watching The Book of Daniel tonight, I walked out into the cold Tennessee night to find the stars glistening within the tide of a beautiful half moon and the crunching pink waves of the distant Nashville light.


It feels good to have cold air pierce the lungs beneath the universe, quietly being still, able to stop for a moment and simply be.

A short drive down Carothers and into Cool Springs Boulevard with the serenade of Sade's "Lover's Rock," reminding me that this is truly one of the sexiest most romantic albums of all time. "When You're on the outside baby and you can't get in, I will show you you're so much better than you know....." Ahhhhh. This music is torture and heaven in the same beat. God.

I thought it would be fun to post some bullet-points of things, situations and thoughts that have crossed my mind and soul this week. Here you go:

*A wild week of acclimating back to the career environment. Enough said about that.

* A bender of incredible bowl games: The culprit of my sleep patterns being out of whack. I think everyone in the world who saw the Orange Bowl had to at least momentarily ask themselves the question, "Is Joe Paterno even remotely cognisant of reality?" The answer is certainly, "Yes," and what a pair of amazing sporting events Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

* The realization that as much as I want to avoid the ridiculous political climate in our world-I can't; none of us can: And, it is an election year. I've really had an apathetic attitude lately toward all of this, but that doesn't make the reality go away. Though, I will stand positive and supportive of our country and what America stands for, even though things look bleak with a ridiculous and deceiving administration of leaders. Let "God's Broom" clean house on them all.

* Being absolutely blown away by Jerry Rice and his hot dance partner on 'Dancing With The Stars' and realizing just what a mountain I have gotten myself into with taking ballroom dancing. I take ballroom dancing lessons. It is absolutely the hardest, most challenging thing I have done athletic-wise, and it is the most exhilirating as well. I have such an appreciation now for this art.

* Watching the 2-hour premiere of 'The Book of Daniel,': And being highly entertained. Oh my, what a show. Remember, it's TV. With that being said, I'd really like to go to Daniel's church and have him for a pastor. In this fantasy, fictional tv show, perhaps alot of the people and institutions that are against this show have good reason for being against it. Perhaps it does represent something that is not like the real church scene at all. Perhaps it is showing things the way it would be in church if we were more open and honest about some things instead of always trying to put on some political show for the 10% and building program. Perhaps if there were more people in the Church like Daniel, more people would embrace the Church.

The way I see it, what is considered the typical "church" in America right now represents the "wide road", not the "narrow." It's sad when people are finding more peace away from the sanctuary of fellowship that god originally intended.

* Pat Robertson: My heart goes out to him. I don't know him, and I don't know what is going on in his mind. I wish him peace and stillness of soul.

* The Grizzlies continue to win: Power, Speed, Force, Integrity and Guts!

* Wishing that ADD was called something else: (Oh, wait.......it is......It's called denial and non-attendance of one's life). The difference between that, and actually naming ADD out, is that I am making progress with dealing with my ADD, and many around me are racing toward the end of their life without even realizing that the moment of now actually is here.

"ADD" is just an over-used, fried out term for a very common condition that continues to get even more common. Despite it's huge popularity right now, it is almost embarrassing to admit having ADD these days. People look at you like, "Oh, Sure!"

A little over a year ago many very specific traits of my life that I sought help for, came together in a very concrete ADD diagnosis. This has been one of the top 3 positive realizations of my life. HINT: ADD is hereditary. ADD is prominent in males. ADD doesn't go away. ADD is something you have had all your life. Organization, starting and finishing tasks, paying attention. The person with ADD has trouble with these things. The person with ADD is also typically a highly creative person.

Whether a person is 8 or 80, their makeup and dna is foundational. That means a person can deal with these things. Alot of the "Oh, that's just the way I am," is bullshit. No, it's not the way you are. You, are simply you; not a bunch of activities and habits that are screwed up. They are such that they can be dealt with.

The issue is presence. A person has to have some sort of presence in their life to be able to wake up and see some of these things. Most people don't have this, and don't want it. That doesn't make them wrong or on a bad path. It is just simply the story of life they choose to pursue. It is perfect for them. For others like myself, there is another path. It is sad that tolerance sometimes doesn't go both ways.

* Catching myself getting upset: A major component of dealing with ADD is able to just simply realize what's going on and sit with it. It saves alot of 'ass-holeishness' and 'judgementalness'.

* Realizing that even if I don't like Wal-Mart, they are not inherently evil, or good. And, guess what: Wal-Mart is not invincible, and one-day, they just MAY go away. In the meantime, for now, I have many shopping choices. Personally, the things I want can be found at many places for reasonable prices, other than Wal-Mart.

* Racism continues to exist in the most subtle forms: And the saddest thing to me is we laugh at most of it and call it comedy and jokes. I'd really like to know what some people in my family would think if I married a black woman, or perhaps an asian girl. On the other hand, I wouldn't want to know. I probably just would keep to myself and not put the girl in a position to even have to deal with it, nor would I put certain people in the position of having to be uncomfortable by challenging the story line that has been built over a lifetime in their mind.

Think of how many people throughout the world have a pain in their sould because they want to share the person they love with all their heart with those who are family. They share, knowing that in the background someone is making a subtle joke. Perhaps it's not even in the background, but upfront. Sad, Sad, Sad. All cultures, all countries, all races, no one is immune.

Tolerance and an open, soft-heart is another of the top-3 realizations or whatever you want to call-it that has happened in my life.

This subtle type of ignorant stupidity really makes me sick. I'm not going to get up in a pulpit and yell about it, but I just don't want to be around it. You will find me walking away from conversations, environments and people who embrace such a low-level of tolerance and high-level of typical, domesticated adult behavior. (Note: we are used to calling stupid behavior, "childish." I don't think that's really accurate. Children are exactly who they are, with no hesitation. It is the adults who act in ways that are so far from who we actually are that it is ridiculous. My 9 year old daughter is much more grounded than most adults I know).

* Cash is King: And our leaders have continued to mortgage our country's cash out to traditional american enemies, yet we are a "Christian," "Moral" country led by God's leaders.

* If the Bible is right about the Anti-Christ and end times, then most people who support our President and the right-wing conservative movement are the "deceived" and will be Left Behind.

Well, that's it. Sade just kicked into "Kiss of Life," and it is pure sunshine. I've had it and am going to head to bed.

Good night. Peace to all.

Scott