Thursday, October 28, 2010

Another Political Blog...or a Quick History Lesson

So here is another political blog, Beatdowners.  Sorry.  But some things I reading, hearing, and seeing has me beyond frustrated with the direction this country is going.  The grid-lock sucks.  It's time for people to COMPROMISE.  It's time for people to take blinders off and stop blaming Bush.  Sure, his administration made some mistakes.  But so did Clinton's.  And so is Obama's.  Get over it.

The word FORECLOSURE is becoming a little TOO repeated, don't you think?

Here's a quick history lesson...and by all means, double and triple check my facts.  I can assure you, I am right.

Over the last decade or more, there has been a strong liberal base in Congress (this includes left-leaning Republicans) that pushed hard...perhaps even MANDATED...for banks to give mortgage loans to just about anyone, regardless of poor(er) credit histories and perhaps "inadequate" fiscal means to repay the loans, especially after certain grace periods of low interest rates expired.  We have seen, since 2008, the obvious...a large percentage of these loans were defaulted on, and foreclosures have been happening at break-neck speed.  All of these foreclosures contributed significantly to the housing and mortgage meltdown, which has served as THE foundation for the current mess our economy is in today.


The housing market tanked, the economy tanked, and the inevitable started - businesses shutting down and laying people off.  Hello current unemployment crisis (face it, guys...it's WAY more than a mess, even when we see good numbers like came out today).

My opinion...when ultra-left liberalism succeeds, America fails.

Some points of historical FACT:

1977 - Jimmy Carter (D) signs the Community Reinvestment Act, guaranteeing home loans to low-income families.

1999 - Bill Clinton (D) puts the Community Reinvestment Act on a whole new level by pushing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to increase the number of sub-prime loans they approve.

2003 - The Bush Administration cites Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as a "systemic risk".  The White House urges Congress SEVENTEEN SEPARATE TIMES to enact new regulations.

2003 - Good ol' Barney Frank (D-CN) boasts that Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac are "not in a crisis".  He straight bashes any and all Republicans for "crying wolf".  Further, Mr. Frank says Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are both "financially sound".  The Democratic Congress blocks the Republican-sponsored regulation legislation.

2005 - Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan warns that the accounting principles of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are "placing the total financial system of the future at a substantial risk".

2005 - Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) states, "I think Fannie and Freddie over the years have done an incredibly good job and are an intrinsic part of making America the best-housed people in the world...if you look over the last 20 or whatever years, they’ve done a very, very good job".

2006 - Senator John McCain (R-AZ) takes up the calls for reform.  He says, "For years I have been concerned about the regulatory structure that governs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the sheer magnitude of these companies and the role they play in the marketplace...the Government Sponsored Enterprises' need to be reformed without delay".

2006 - The Democratic Congress AGAIN blocks reform legislation, this time that had some bi-partisan support.

2008 - The housing market collapses...and, without hesitation, Democrats blame the Republicans and the Bush Administration.

Again, double and triple check my facts.  They are spot on.  To my liberal friends - sorry, facts are facts.  Take your blinders off.  Stop being sheep.  Open up to other ideas.  Obama is NOT the savior he was touted to be.  Palin is certainly NOT the answer.  The only answer is REAL and TRUE representation.  PAC's, Special Interest Groups, and ideology that doesn't work don't belong in government; they never did, but their influence has swallowed the system and made it a whore.

To BOTH sides of the isle - stop pointing fingers.  Stop slinging mud.  Stop the perpetual campaigning.  COMPROMISE.  Our country is in the proverbial sh*tter.  Work to pull us out.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

I, Enemy...An URGENT Political Blog

It’s Wednesday, Beatdowners, and time for a quick political blog...

Dateline: MONDAY, 10/25/10

President Obama did a radio interview with the Spanish-language Univision network to drum up support for his party’s candidates in the upcoming midterm elections. No big deal, right? After all, politics today has become all about re-election bids and holding on to power and less and less about the common good for us, the average, ordinary citizens.

However, during the interview, the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES said this (direct quote here, too):

If Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, ‘We’re going to punish our enemies and we’re going to reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us’, if they don’t see what kind of upsurge in voting in this election, then I think it’s going to be harder, and that’s why I think it’s so important that people focus on voting on November 2”.
Seriously. President Obama said this.  "...PUNISH OUR ENEMIES...".

Days after his remarkably distasteful remark during another campaign stop where he said, “We don’t mind the Republicans joining us. They can come for the ride, but they’ve got to sit in back.”

He didn’t say “political adversaries”.

Hell, even “political enemies” would have been more tolerable.

No, he just referred to John & Joan Q. American as his, his party’s, and Latino’s “enemies”.

Let it sink in.

A few questions, Mr. President…

Who are the “enemies” you are referring to?

Are they the vast majority of Americans who wish to see much-needed immigration reform?

Are they the vast majority of Americans who wish to see immigration laws enforced?

Are they the vast majority of Americans who wish to see our borders secured?

I’m fairly certain you were talking directly about ME.


And well, Mr. President, I am no enemy of America. In fact, I am more American than you ever will be.


Your “enemies”, Mr. President, will hopefully come out in droves on November 2nd and vote as you called for.

And, God willing, they will vote people like you out office...for the betterment of the United States of America.

I’ll finish with a quote and an opinion…

The late Ronald Reagan, on March 28, 1985, said this in a speech to the students, faculty, and staff at St. John’s University in New York, New York:
If we’ve learned anything, it is that government that is big enough to give you everything you want is more likely to simply take everything you’ve got. And that’s not freedom, that’s servitude. That isn’t the way Americans were meant to live.
Opinion – the system is broken. WE have the power to fix it. VOTE. Run for office. Get involved.

The more we sit on the sidelines, the more we continue down this slippery slope, the further our freedoms evaporate, and the further into servitude we slide.

Vote all of the bastards in DC out. The United States Congress and the President of the United States have my vote of “NO CONFIDENCE”. Join in that vote and replace them.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

T-H-E Rant About Beautiful Girls



Greetings and Salutations this fine Tuesday evening, Beatdowners.


I'm thinking of swithcing things up a little on here...rather than only posting somewhat long and complex (I use that term VERY loosely) blog entries, I'm just going to start throwing a little more randomness in the mix. A little more free form.

So here goes nothing...

I stayed up last night until nearly 3am watching one of my favorite flicks...Scott Rosenberg's 1996 classic, Beautiful Girls (directed by Ted Demme, starring Timothy Hutton, Matt Dillon, Uma Thurman, Michael Rapaport, Mira Sorvino, Noah Emmerich, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Max Perlich, Lauren Holly, Rosie O'Donnell, Martha Plimpton, Natalie Portman, and Anne Bobby).

I won't go into detail on the plot. It is NOT a "chick flick"...it is awesome. You will undoubtedly find yourself relating to one, if not all, of the characters, depending on where you are in your own jounrey through life.

One of the best scenes in the movie, and one of my alltime favorite movie moments comes when Michael Rapaports character, Paul, is telling Timothy Hutton's character, Willy, why he has pictures of super models hanging all over his room, and exactly what a beautiful girl is and can do.

It's epic.  Enjoy...

Monday, October 25, 2010

Why the US is a Sh*tshow...or EPIC FAIL

Someone has a case of the Monday's today, Beatdowners.

So I'm getting on my soapbox for a minute.  Deal.

I 110% firmly believe our once great country is going to Hell in a hand basket.  Seriously. 

Sexual affairs of pro athletes is top news stories. 
Lindsay Lohan's run-in's with the law are top news stories. 
EVERY elected representative in DC is out for one thing - themself, their reelection bid, and whoever contributes the most money to them and/or their campaigns. 
"Political Correctness" is reaching extreme levels.

And that "P.C." thing is what this blog is about.

Last week in Michigan, a civil rights complaint was filed against a woman who put an advertisement on her church's bulletin board back in July searching for a Christian roommate. 

Yes, you read that correctly.

The woman posted the ad on her church's bulletin board and someone who saw it decided to be a friggin' jitbag and complain to the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan; and of course, the Fair Housing Center of Western Michigan (who obviously has WAY too much time on their hands) filed the civil rights complaint on grounds that the ad "expresses an illegal preference for a Christian roommate, thus excluding people of other faiths".

Let that sink in.

Whether there are laws on the books or not regarding this (the Fair Housing Act prevents people from publishing an advertisement stating their preference of religion, race or handicap with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling), in a nutshell and very plainly, the woman's right to have a roommate with a background of her choice is unimportant.  All that matters is offending someone with the ad because it specifically says CHRISTIAN ROOMMATE WANTED.

People have a right to pick and chose who they want to live with, be friends with, hang with, etc.  But apparently in America, you only have that right if you don't offend anyone.

No one (religious belief, color, nationality, sexual preference, etc) should have to worry about being punished by the government for being whatever it is they are - Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Black, White, Asian, German, Irish, Indian, straight, gay, etc.

It's a sin to bring any civil rights issues against a young, single Christian woman for PRIVATELY at her church to look for a roommate with a similar CHRISTIAN background like hers.  Maybe I'm wrong, but that should be protected by law...1st Amendment, Freedom of Religion...we have the right to live with someone of the same religious faith. 

Period.

Another example of taxpayer money being wasted for BULLSH*T.

Take away our liberties.
Take away our freedoms to live as we want as long as we aren't hurting others.

And you know what hurts my feelings and offends me?

Being frowned upon for saying "Merry CHRISTmas", "GOD bless you", "...one nation under GOD...", "in GOD we trust"...reading that the ACLU doesn't want to see any religious symbols on federal property...hey assholes, tell that to families of the brave men and women buried in Arlington National Cemetery that have crosses, Stars of David, etc., marking their loved one's final resting place...the same people who made the ultimate sacrifice to give you the freedom to take up causes intent on destroying our country and causing divide instead of unity and tolerance.

It's a shame we have become a nation of sheep.  Wake up before it's too late and we aren't allowed to do or say anything without facing fines, criminal charges, or worse.

Think about these things before voting next week.

And if I offended you, go F yourself.  If America is so unfair and biased against you, move.

Happy Monday Beatdowners.  Until next time, wake up, take America back, take your freedom back, and may God bless you and yours...

Friday, October 22, 2010

If I Had A Million Dollars...or Killin' Time on a Friday Afternoon

TGIF Beatdowners!

Quick update on the work-out/bettering myself plan...

Been to the gym 6 out of 7 days per week since I rejoined.  Feeling 100x better.  I'm loving the work-out high.  I find myself challenging myself, too..."One more minute on the treadmill", "Just another quarter-mile", "5 more pounds on this set", etc., etc.  Still a ways to go to get where I want to be, but enjoying the first few weeks!

Quick Halloween costume side bar...

I'm dressing up as Jesus.  I'm hoping He will forgive me.  I'd be willing to bet He was a cool Dude with an awesome sense of humor.  No offense intended.  Just kind of snicker when I think about it.  I'll be posting pics on my Facebook page, I'm sure.  Lord, please forgive me.  I'm an a-hole.

Now then, on to the blog...

The Mega Millions jackpot is up to a staggering $101 million.  That's a MOBYDONKULOUS amount of loot.  I'm buying tickets for it tonight without a doubt.

$101 million.  Could you imagine?  I'd immediately go for the cash option, which I think is in the neighborhood of $70 million.  From everything I've heard/read, you clear about a third of the cash pay-out after taxes, etc.  A third of $70 million is $23,333,333.33.

TWENTY THREE MILLION DOLLARS.

I'm finding the day is dragging, and I've mentally checked out, so what better way to pass the time than to figure out what to do with that kind of loot...

I won't bore you with the obvious...I'd donate to worthy charities, I'd help family and friends (Tommy J. would get that $0.33), and make sure my 2 Littleheads had a trust fund.

But I'd have some wicked fun, too.  And here is some of what I'd spend recklessly on...

1. I'd rent a sky box at Ravens Stadium for the remaining home games.
2. I'd go to the Super Bowl.
3. I'd by a few new cars...all of them LOADED.  In no particular order: a Ford F350 Crew Cab, black, with a big ol' lift on it...a Black BMW X6...a black Chevy Camero (the new ones)...and an old, fully restored 1970 Chevy Nova SS...black.
4. I'd buy a personalized jersey for every NFL team...I'd buy the home, away, and alt colors for a few of them, too.
5. I'd buy a bar.  I'd let someone else run it, I'd just bar tend there.
6. I'd buy a big piece of land, and have a log cabin built on it...a big one...a rancher...with an enormous man cave of a basement full of sport memorabilia, a full service bar, a few TVs, including one ginormous one (60+ inch).
7. I'd go to Ireland, Scotland, England, and Germany.
8. I'd buy an RV and do some fun road trips across the country.
9. I'd spend a week in NYC during the Holiday season.
10. I'd go to Vegas.  On a chartered private jet.  'Nuff said.
11. I'd quit my job, and go back to school.  I'd get a minor in Pop Culture Studies from UB, just because (A) pop culture fascinates me, and (B) one of the requirements for the minor is a class about zombies.
12. I would throw a concert on some big-ass farm, sell tickets to it, and throw all proceeds from ticket sales to a children's center/orphanage to ensure a good Christmas for all of the kids there.
13. On Black Friday of this year, I'd wander around and give complete strangers $100 every 30 minutes, and wish them a MERRY CHRISTMAS.  Take that you ACLU fer's.
14. I'd go to a few of my favorite watering holes and pick-up the tabs of the patrons.
15. I'd buy some major beer brewing equipment and a garage and start my own brewery; after someone teaches me how to brew beer on a distributor level.
16. I would sponsor a bar crawl through Federal Hill sometime in December; the catch - you have to dress like Santa, an elf, or Mrs. Claus to participate.
17. I'd buy a condo in Ocean City.
18. I'd start my own wine cellar...just for shits and giggles.
19. I'd get tickets to as many U2 shows for their Summer 2011 North American tour as I could handle - and I'd travel to them in the aforementioned RV.
20. I'd hire Philly J to film me going to bars across Maryland (again in the aforementioned RV - with a hired DD) for a reality TV series a la "Man vs. Food" or "Zane Lamprey's Three Sheets".  It'd be a Direct-to-DVD project.  It'd probably sell 3 copies.  But it would be legendary.  Title TBD...the words STONE and AWESOME would certainly be in the title somewhere.

There's a Top 20...and I'd be willing to bet I haven't even spent $2 million yet. 

It's good to dream.  Especially when you have to kill the remaining 118 minutes left in the work week.

A toast for all of the Beatdowners...

Here's to a long life and a merry one.
A quick death and an easy one.
A pretty girl and an honest one.
A cold beer—and another one!

Bottoms up! 

Until next time...be awesome to each other.  And party on, dudes.

Friday, October 15, 2010

An AWESOME Friday Blog...or WWPD?


**DISCLAIMER – YES, I AM AN ASSHOLE…SO TAKE THIS AS IT IS INTENDED, WITH A GRAIN OF SALT – TGIF!***


There are 3 things in life I am 110% certain about.

1. There is a God.

2. I am not Him.

3. I – Matt Stone – am awesome.

How did I get so awesome?

Good question.

It wasn’t easy.  While it’s hard to admit (choking back the tears of this painful memory), there were times when I was...so hard to say...simply normal...perhaps even slightly lame.

However, I persevered.

I worked long and hard and became special.  I enjoyed it there but knew I had more inside.

I kept pushing and broke through the barrier of being truly great.

Just for shits and giggles, I even tried out being infamous.

And then, like a phoenix rising from the flames, the inner awesomeness that was always there broke through, and continues to shine to this day.

Obviously, very few of you will be able to reach my levels of awesomeness.  However, you can try day-in and day-out to achieve my heights of brilliance; and, as a public service, I will point you in the right direction, so that one day you can proudly say, "I am almost as awesome as Matt Stone".

A Guide to Awesomeness

The single most important part of being awesome is to exude awesomeness in all that you do.

In today’s world, you are immediately judged by your appearance.  So looking awesome is the first step.

Now don’t get me wrong...I in no way, shape, or form can make you beautiful, handsome, tough, or show you how to find a style that best suits you.  But what I can do is tell you that having an "I Don’t Give A Sh*t" sense of style goes a long way to cover up any imperfections you may have and need to compensate for.

If you are a guy, you have 2 options – (1) Never cut your hair, or (2) shave it off, Telly Savalas style (I opted for option 2 here).

How does this contribute to awesomeness, you may ask?  Take a look back at history.

Long hair – Jesus. There was a dude who is to this day world renowned, and billions still talk about Him daily.  We don't know a whole lot about Jesus’ everyday life, with the exception of what is in the Bible, but take a look at most renditions of him in art...nearly all artists depict him with awesome long, flowing locks of hair.

Bald – The Dalai Lama.  He is a righteous dude...and he's bald. ‘Nuff said.

Having long hair or being bald undoubtedly boosts your sexual potency.  Either style will certainly result in frequent promotions at work, sometimes even jumping 2 levels on an organizational chart.  Long hair or the cue ball will definitely make everyone think you are in a rock band.  And lastly, by nixing the haircut or by shaving your own head, you will save countless amounts of moola by never having to go to your local barber again.

Any hair style remotely in between baldness and long hair results in you looking like you have been assimilated into being one of "them".

Dress like you are awesome.  Get the wicked cool t-shirt I saw at Target that has “PROUD TO BE AWESOME” emblazoned on the front of it.  Definitely wear sunglasses indoors.  Unquestionably never – E-E-E-Ever – wear anything that jitbags or posers would wear (the popped collar, the skin tight painted on jeans, the emo, the extra small t-shirts to make you look more "buff", etc).  If you have any articles of clothing that may be seen on an episode of Jersey Shore, burn them immediately...I guarantee that your levels of awesomeness will increase immediately.

Ironing. Completely and totally not worth your time.  All it does is make you look like one of "them"...don’t do it anymore.  Ever.

No Smoking.  Smoking is NOT awesome.  If you smoke, take a look in a mirror while pulling a drag.  That alone should make you quit cold turkey.  If not, smell yourself after a few cigs.  You smell like shit.  And that isn’t awesome...not even a little...not even at all.

Now the important – perhaps THE most important – part of being awesome.

Feeling awesome is just as important as looking awesome.  It truly isn’t all about the appearance. 

It most certainly is about having an attitude that screams, "I am so awesome that if awesome was an energy source, I could power the entire Eastern seaboard".  That's the kind of attitude that distinguishes the awesome from the also-rans.

How do you develop and hone that attitude? It’s quite simple.

Give less of a shit.  The constant inner-debate over every single little daily decision (i.e., is the road is clear? Should I have that beer?  Is hemlock actually perfectly safe in small doses?) does nothing but waste the most precious commodity there is – time that could be spent being awesome.  Don't fret over the smaller things in life...they always work themselves out...and if they need some extra attention, that’s what your groupies (those that hang out with you in hopes of being awesome by association) are for.

Be enthusiastic, about everything you do and everything that happens to you.  God forbid something tragic comes your way, but if it does, the only thing you can do is embrace it.  For example, if you are stuck in a lame meeting at your job, or if you are still in school and knee-deep in the most boring lecture, embrace the horror by asking a question every ten or fifteen minutes...or better yet, offer to get up and take over the meeting or teach the class.  And of course, if your co-workers or professor would oblige and hand the reigns over to you, run with a lecture centering around your own awesomeness...or mine if you are still taking baby steps towards the goal.

Walk everywhere, as much as you can.  Why?  Because no one can see your awesomeness if riding in a vehicle solo, and public transportation only confines the awesomeness to the privileged people around you.  Also, walking will ensure that you ALWAYS arrive fashionably late.

Publicize yourself.  Create your own magazine or blog that showcases your awesomeness.  Make all of the articles or entries about YOU.  Get business cards made that simply have your name and the word AWESOME on them.  Hand out flyers with your face on them that, in 25 words or less, proudly and definitively proclaim your awesomeness.  Get a megaphone and state your levels of awesomeness to anyone and everyone within an earshot.  Grab any and all...or better yet, CREATE your own...opportunities that will make you (and therefore your magnitudes of awesomeness) known to the masses...to "them".  The more people that know you and your degree of awesomeness, the more awesome you will become de facto.

Think like a pirate.  Beyond a shadow of doubt, pirates are universally considered to be awesome.  I should clarify, I’m talking Jack Sparrow or Captain Hook pirates, not the jitbags in and around Africa or the Middle East...they suck, and are the lamest of lame.

I digress...if you are ever in a situation and are having any inclination of doubt about a course of action, ask yourself WWPD? – yes, I went there – What Would Pirates Do? 

Unquestionable guaranteed success.

Example: You are out with a lady friend and she asks you to hold her purse for a minute. You ask yourself, "WWPD?"  Obviously, you quickly whip out your cutlass sword, stab everyone in sight, and plunder their booty...follow it up with slinging your wench over your shoulder, swing on a rope back to your ship, tie her up, and get slurringly, shitcan drunk on rum and grog.

Awesome.

Read it.  Learn it.  Live it.

Have a great weekend Beatdowners.  Rest assured, I’ll continue being awesome.

Until next time...

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Say What's On Your Mind...or Grow A Set

Happy Thursday! Feeling more and more like Fall...and I'm loving every second of it!

Quick update before I dive into my tirade...over a week into my adventures back to the gym, and I'm loving it. I've been every day except last Friday (day of rest) and Sunday (Gold's closed at 8pm...so I went for a long jog around my 'hood). So I've been at it for a bit, and I'm feeling good...REALLY good.

Now then, on to my latest rant...this is coming from multiple angles, some past, some present. But it's something that drives me flippin' ape-shit.

Why can't people speak their minds?

Why can't they say what it is they should and want to say instead of ignoring whatever situation they want to speak about in hopes that it just goes away?

Seriously...

We've all been there, done that, seen that, heard that.

At work.

At school.

In relationships.

With friends.

With family.

Advice to the quiet, the meek, and those that won't say what's on their mind...

GROW A SET.

One of the best things about being a person is individuality. And a SIGNIFICANT part of individuality rests in the opinions and feelings people have, on a wide breadth of subjects.

Don't hold them back!
Say what you think.
Say what you feel!
Otherwise, you are no one.

Otherwise, you are vanilla.

Sure, there are going to be some who don't appreciate your opinion, and even more who will get mad or hurt by what you think and feel.

Honestly, who cares? You have to stay true to yourself.

Case in point - a few of my bestest friends in the world (Ex and Ra) are MOBYDONKULOUS liberal. Like so far left, they can't even see the right. Rest assured, when we get together, politics ALWAYS comes up...and we are polar opposites. The spout their liberal theology at me like a preacher pushing redemption. I disagree with 75%+ of what they say. And they always say my counter arguments are asinine...and of course, they blame my opinions on W. Anyhow, we are still bestest buds, and we have (at least in my mind) the utmost respect for each other, in no small part because we speak our minds.

Opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one, and they all stink.

Now on to relationships. I am so sick of seeing guys and gals playing the game, so to speak...and I know the game because I've played it far too many times in my life...and won't get out of relationships or situations because they don't want to hurt someone's feelings, be it the person they are in the relationship with or a circle of friends who approve of that relationship.

IF YOU AREN'T FEELING IT, SAY IT...DRAGGING IT OUT LEADS TO ANGER AND PAIN.

At work...too many supervisors try to be "buddies" rather than supervisors. If someone is working FOR you and they F up, be honest. The only way someone will grow is to be challenged. Sink or swim was a phrase used far too often at a previous job...but I FULLY get it now. You can't do someone's job for them because you like them/feel sorry for them/want to be friends with them. Not only are you being a schmuck, but you are doing the person that reports to you a HUGE disservice by keeping them from growing professionally.

I speak my mind ALL the time.
I hurt people's feelings because they don't like what I have to say.
I make people angry because they don't necessarily agree with my point of view or my feelings.

But at the same time, people know they will get 100% blunt-force truth when asking my thoughts on something.

Am I always right? HA! Not even close.

But I'm always true to myself, and in the end, that's what matters.

Stop avoiding issues in hopes that it will correct itself and go away.

Stop going with the flow just to make sure you won't rock the boat.

Start being YOU, even if you have to ruffle a few feathers.

Do me a favor Beatdowners...if you have something on your mind, GO OUT AND SAY IT, ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE IS ASKING YOUR THOUGHTS OR FEELINGS!

Off to the gym as soon as my sweatpants are out of the drier.

See y'all soon...until next time, be awesome, don't whore anyone up, and for God's Sake, let people know what you think and feel!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

The Challenge...or Me Putting a Boot Up My Own Ass

Happy F'ing Tuesday, Beatdowners.

Can you taste the sarcasm dripping from my pie-hole at the moment?!?!?!?

No???

Well let's get straight to the point then – today sucks dog-ass…as have a sh*t-ton of days of late.

While I'm still AWESOME (seriously, that will never change), I'm in a wicked funk.

I've grown LAZY. It sucks.

Where does it stem from?

Boredom.
Not feeling challenged.
Not challenging myself.

Whatever it is, it has to stop, like NOW.

Seriously...it's taking a toll.

Does that happen to you ever, or am I just a walking violation to the Laws of Human Nature?

The aforementioned boredom, not being challenged, and not having that proverbial kick in the ass has made me a SLUG.

Working out? Psh, forget it.
House work? I say Nay! It'll be there tomorrow.

Goodbye motivation, hello procrastination.

Goodbye productivity, hello inefficiency.

I'm seriously starting to get on my own damn nerves; I can't imagine what I'm doing to those that have to be around me on a regular basis.

So what to do about it?

CHALLENGE MYSELF.

There are 86 days left in the year as of midnight tonight.

So my challenge – better myself in 86 days.

I vow to:
1. Create a work-out routine, and stick to it...no time like the present to renew my Gold's Gym membership and start going again.

2. Go on a strict diet...I'm seriously going to start writing down everything I eat...calories, fat grams, etc. I'll probably end up getting a little obsessive with it, but who really cares…if it motivates me, it's worth it.
I'm going to portion everything.
I'm going to bring my lunch to work.
Perhaps I'll give up beef and pork again.
My brother and sister-in-law had some pretty good success from the Weight Watchers points program...maybe I'll tailor a diet based on similar principles.
I'll give up Starbucks Frappacino in the morning.
I'll give up the daily soda.
I'll eliminate those “hollow calories”.

3. Do more housework. I won't let towels pile up. I will vacuum more than once a week. I won't let clutter collect.

4. Cut my losses wherever possible in any and all aspects of my life, and move FORWARD rather than round and round in a circle. I've done it before. I will do it again.

5. Spend more time doing what I like to do rather than bumming about what I can't do...as I say on my Facebook profile, "Aut viam inveniam aut faciam"...I will either find a way or make one...

This is my contract with myself. It starts at midnight, perhaps earlier if I can get to Gold's Gym tonight.

Every journey has a beginning. Here's the beginning of my 86-day journey.

I'll post updates.
I'm sure some will be me b*thcing and complaining.
Certainly some will be me whining.

Whatever they may be, do your awesome blogger (that’d be ME) a favor and post encouragement when you think I may need it.

The ride is gonna be a fun one - jump on board! Time to get the Boomstick Swagger back!

See you on the flipside, Beatdowners - gymin' it this evening!

Friday, October 1, 2010

I Hit The Wall...

TGIF Beatdowners!

Big weekend on tap, and looking forward to it with baited breath...kid free, Fell's Point Fun Festival, and Ravens-Steelers Sunday. It'll be a doozy!

Anyhow, in an earlier blog I mentioned the fact that it's a universal guarantee that at some point in time during the day, you will realize that you will do nothing productive for the remainder of that day.

It's 12:58pm, and I've hit my wall.

I've mentally checked out.

Your boy Stone has jumped on the SS Slacker, and is sailing the seas of It's-Five-O'Clock-Somewhere.

There will be nothing productive coming out of me for the next 4 hours.

Not really sure why I felt the need to blog about it, but what the Heck, it kills some time.

Some random thoughts going through my head this first day of October, 2010...

1. I really want some Bang Bang Shrimp from Bonefish.

2. I'll be putting up the Christmas tree in 8 weeks from today.

3. I hate crickets.

4. Wonder what everyone would do if I just stood up, screamed at the top of my lungs, threw my arms in the air, and ran out of the building while shouting "The clowns are after me!"...I'd bet it'd throw a wrench in the rest of this office's work day.

5. What is that smell?!?!?!?

6. If I could have one super power, it'd be the ability to use the Force...that way, I could convince anyone to do anything. Sit on that one a bit...it'd be pretty friggin' wicked awesome, huh?

7. I'd like to own a police-style bullhorn...I would stand on the corner of some busy intersection and use it to LOUDLY insult jitbags and posers as I deem necessary, whether they are in their cars or simply walking the streets...

8. Seriously, WTF is that smell?!?!?!?

9. Gin and juice...

10. Sing with me! "Cause your kisses lift me higher, Like the sweet song of a choir, You light my morning sky, With burning love, With burning love, Ah, ah, burning love...I'm just a hunk, a hunk of burning love..."

Is it 5 o'clock yet?

Have a great one, folks.

Until next time...