Brighter days ahead?

I met someone on match.com recently. She is so cool...one of the guys, so to speak. That's just how I like it. I have no interest in "prim and proper ladies". I've chatted with several women online lately, but she's different. Our conversation doesn't seem "forced" just for the sake of conversation. There was an immediate interest after the initial email, and it seemed mutual. We spoke on the phone once so far, and I'll admit we were a little bit apprehensive, but it was a nice chat...about an hour. I can't wait to meet her in person. She said herself that despite how "loose" our online (email, IM) conversation is, we'll probably both be like deer in the headlights when we meet...and she's probably right, but if we can both just try to focus on what we already know about each other, we should be fine.
I suggested maybe going to a dinner/comedy club for the first meet. Someplace where it's near impossible to allow tension to exist. Plus she's a real wise-ass...it's one of my favorite qualities in her so far. Did I mention that she's pretty cute?
I hope this turns into something...it's headed in the right direction so far. Brighter days indeed.

Killer week at work

Wow, what a week this was! Between the snow storm last weekend, and loading in for the DiGiorno Super Bowl sale at Stop & Shop, I generated sales in this week alone ($33,000) what normally takes almost 3 weeks to do. Of course, it comes at a price. I worked almost 70 hours and I'm exhausted. However, working on commission, and generating about $52,000 (normally a 4 week output) during this two week pay period, it will be like getting a double paycheck. Plus I should be getting my nice tax refund soon, so I'll be sitting pretty for a while. I just have to remember that the summer is a total contrast sales-wise, so I need to put some aside. It's quite ironic actually. I make the most money when the weather sucks and I don't have the time or energy to do anything, and the least money when the weather is great and my days are much shorter and easier due to less sales.
Anyway, this week coming up is one of the busiest of the year, and then things should calm down a bit.

Some more raw, unbridled buffoonery for you and yours

Today, I think I'll let Paul Harvey illustrate how preposterous and uptight our society has become.

Paul Harvey & Prayer

Paul Harvey says: -
"I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December.
I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his theory of evolution.

Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game.

So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game.

"But it's a Christian prayer," some will argue. Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect-somebody chanting Hare Krishna? If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.

If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer. If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha. And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one bit. When in Rome..

"But what about the atheists?" is another argument. What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized.. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds.. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer! Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep.

Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying. God, help us. And if that last sentence offends you, well..........just sue me.

The silent majority has been silent too long. it's time we let that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard, that the vast majority don't care what they want.. it is time the majority rules! It's time we tell them, you don't have to pray.. you don't have to say the pledge of allegiance, you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right.. but by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away . we are fighting back.. and we WILL WIN!

God bless us one and all, especially those who denounce Him... God bless America, despite all her faults, she is still the greatest nation of all.....

God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God...

May 2005 be the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions.

Keep looking up..... In God WE Trust.

First storm of the winter

Well, it has arrived. The first major snowfall of the winter of '05. What started as a forecast of 3-6 inches has become a minimum of a foot...possibly 18". Thankfully it happened on a Saturday. The roads should be in fine shape for the Monday AM commute.
What a beautiful snow it is too. I can't wait until tomorrow and hopefully grab some nice photos of it. Makes me appreciate where I live. The snow looks beautiful on what is already a top-notch landscape, which also means there is no "gray" snow tomorrow. I really love it here.

In the meantime, being snowed in makes it that much more fun to get some things done around the house, on the PC, and enjoy the games tomorrow. When the Dolphins are not involved, I tend to like the underdog, so I'll be pulling for Atlanta and Pittsburgh tomorrow. If the Steelers win, I'll be pulling for them in the SB no matter who they play. If the Pats win, I'll be pulling for whoever they play against. :-)

Winter is upon us

Getting the first real glimpse of winter this week. Bitterly cold temperatures, and a legitimate snowfall. The roads were very slick on the way home tonight, with the usual sporadic accidents causing typical bad weather traffic.
The ride home became much more pleasant from receiving not one, not two, but three phone calls from Cheryl being concerned that I was getting home safely (I have a wireless headset for my cell phone, and she knows it, so there's no potential irony in regards to my safety). Her thoughtfulness really meant a lot to me. She's a good egg.
From what the forecasts are saying, today's snow is only a small preview of what's to come this weekend. Ought to make the football games in Pennsylvania on Sunday quite interesting.
Did I mention that snow scares are the best thing for my job? The more concrete the forecasts become, the more pizza I'm gonna sell. Gonna be a fruitful next couple of days!

Possible career advancement

Went for an interview today for a potential promotion. They're creating a new position called Senior District Coordinator, which is basically an entry-level management position to aid the District Manager. It's not the most ideal job, but it does come with a company car, and is a step in the right direction. I think the interview went well...we'll see what happens.

Cool concert news

Just found out that Frogg Café is opening for Proto-Kaw in Metuchen in June.
I finally get to see Kerry Livgren!
"The way I see it Barry, this should be a really dynamite show!"

Also, I can't wait to give my new camera a trial run before Nearfest in July.

Very cool indeed.

Rare friendships

I haven't mentioned here yet that we got a replacement bowler on our team in place of Donna, who is on injured reserve. Her name is Cheryl, and we connected the minute we met. Wonderful gal she is. It's amazing how much we think alike emotionally and how we've hit it off so well. Unfortunately she's not "available", but nevertheless we're quickly becoming very close friends. We talk just about every day, and often for a couple of hours at a time. We've already shared intimate details of our lives, including things she's told me that she claims only a handful of people even know. Considering the content of those conversations, I believe her. It's really nice to find someone that you feel an almost immediate trust to open up with. Friends like that are rare, and are certainly cherished. Those are the kind that last for years, even if the frequency diminishes.

They shoot horses, don't they?

I guess this can be a follow-up to my "What the hell...?" entry...or maybe a continuation.

Heard in the news the other day that sleigh riding is now banned in some NJ town (forget which one) because apparently some kid ran into something and got hurt. Happened to all of us, right? That was the risk for the thrill of it, no? Here's the wrinkle though...the parents sued the town...and won! HELLO!! Kids play...kids get hurt (it wasn't serious, btw)...it's part of growing up. It's called being a kid and having fun! It kills me to hear things like this, because most parents of small children these days are of my generation. When did we learn to file frivolous lawsuits? Pretty soon it's going to get to the point where kids will start getting briefcases and cell phones in lieu of their first tricycle or Barbie doll! They say youth is wasted on the young...not for long if Jersey parents can help it! Youth is becoming a lost concept. Did I mention that Jersey is a totally Democratic state? Again, I don't latch on to either party...just reinforcing my point that both parties have their fair share of dipshits. Anything a Democrat can criticize about a Republican, a Republican can find just as much to criticize about a Democrat.
I have lived through a more or less equal share of both parties' administrations, and I've always had a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food on my table. If anyone can tell me how one party benefits me over the other, I'm all ears. A Democrat might defend NJ by saying that we have the highest median income in the nation. AND? We also have among the highest cost of living...what's your point?
I'll say it again...bipartisanship is stupid. Why not take the best of both and make one really spiffy party that will make everyone happy?
What really scares me is that I am not, and never was, very political. Unfortunately, the events in this state have forced me to go on political rants because everything is politically motivated these days.
Man, I hate this state!